Rahul Gandhi visits J&K: Congress and NC discuss alliance for upcoming Elections

Rahul Gandhi received an exuberant welcome from his supporters and party members when he reached the airport at Jammu and Kashmir yesterday evening. He is visiting the place for two days with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. His car was even briefly stopped in celebration outside the airport, which caused trepidation among his security personnel. 

He was seen enjoying dinner yesterday at the famous Ahdoos restaurant and later, an ice crem parlour in Lal Chowk last night. The two leaders took no meetings yesterday, but will be holding talks today and tomorrow.

Congress holds talks

Kharge and Gandhi are said to have started taking meetings from 10 am today. They will be meeting with party cadres from 10 districts in the Kashmir Valley today. Following the meetings, they will hold a press conference around 11:30 am and fly to Jammu around 2:30 pm. They will again meet with party workers from  10 Jammu districts. The meetings will facilitate making grassroot-level arrangements to prepare for the upcoming elections.

जम्मू-कश्मीर के साथ मेरा खून का रिश्ता है – वहां के लोगों के दिलों में जो दुख-दर्द है, उसे मिटा कर उन्हें उनका statehood और representation वापस दिलाना ही मेरा सबसे बड़ा लक्ष्य है। pic.twitter.com/iBFDwwJxn0

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 22, 2024

Rahul Gandhi, today, said that India had never witnessed a state becoming two Union Territories before 2019. He claimed that the representation of the J&K civilians held great importance.

The elections will take place in three phases. The first phase will begin on 18^th September, the second phase will take place on 25^th September and the third phase is set to take place on 1^st October, with the results being declared on 4^th October. These elections will be the first after the imposition of President’s rule and since the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories in 2019.

Congress has openly invited all like-minded regional parties to form a strong front against BJP. Though it is assumed that the Congress will be forming an alliance with the National Conference (NC) soon, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s visit is only aimed at holding important discussions with local Congress party workers, assured J&K Pradesh Congress president Tariq Karra. The Leader  of Opposition in Lok Sabha’s visit now is unrelated to the alliance, said Tariq.

Potential alliance between Congress and NC

The National Conference (NC) is already a part of the INDIA bloc at the Centre since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah had previously announced that the party will not be forming an alliance with any other party before the elections. However, Karra said that the NC has been talking to Congress to join forces in the upcoming elections.

There seems to be some disagreement between the two parties with regard to the seats; while the NC wishes for the Congress to contest from the Jammu region, the latter wants seats in the Kashmir Valley as well. This visit will likely witness talks between the leaders of the two parties that could result in a pre- poll alliance.

PDP invites Congress for an alliance

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar expressed interest in joining forces with the Congress.  PDP initiated alliance- politics in J&K, said Akhtar yesterday. He believes that all the parties there should stand united in the face of the challenges in the erstwhile state- people are being denied their rights and wrongly imprisoned, and their resources are being snatched away. Jammu and Kashmir, despite being as diverse as a “continent’’, was “downgraded to a Union Territory”.

Congress was responsible for J&K’s accession in 1947 and therefore, has a “moral responsibility” to restore the situation there, Akhtar stated. Rahul Gandhi has come to be an influential leader of our country and his efforts could help highlight J&K’ issues at the national level. Naeem Akhtar also claimed that though the PDP was willing to form an alliance, it is Congress which would have to initiate the talks.