The two main Kashmir based regional political parties- the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are toying with the idea of jointly contesting the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Though no formal consultation process has been initiated or any roadmap has been finalised with regard to any seat sharing arrangements between the two main constituents of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) yet the top ranks of both the parties are cozying up to each other in the run up to the forthcoming polls in the Union Territory later this year or early next year.
“We will contest the elections together", National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who heads the PAGD, told reporters here on the sidelines of a tribute ceremony organised in the memory of Santoor player Pandit Bhajan Sopori.Dr Abdullah was commenting on the exit of a PAGD constituent. " There is a political party that said that they have left the alliance. The truth is that they were never part of the alliance. They had come to break us from within,”said Dr Abdullah.
Significantly,PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also echoed the similar sentiments.
“We intend to contest the elections together as it is the will of the people that we should strive together for the restoration of our lost dignity,” Mehbooba said.
Responding to a question, Abdullah said elections can be held whenever the Government wants.
“Elections were held when we had floods. Why can’t elections be held now? The question is how they want to contest the polls,” the former chief minister added. The Election Commission has already set in motion the preparations for holding assembly polls in the Union Territory. It has initiated the revision of electoral rolls following the delimitation exercise in J&K. The Election Commission will publish the finalised electoral rolls of J&K on October 31, the union territory’s first voters’ list after the boundaries of the assembly seats were redrawn.