The Congress is open to an alliance with like-minded parties in the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
This was stated by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday.
“The Congress party is open to forming alliances with like-minded people or parties for the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory,” he said at a press conference in Srinagar after returning from Delhi.
Karra, recently appointed as the JKPCC chief in place of Vikar Rasool Wani, was warmly welcomed at the party headquarters upon his return from Delhi.
He said the regional parties like the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) are communicating with Congress's central leadership about a possible pre-poll alliance.
“As far as I know, the NC has already approached the central leadership for an alliance,” he said. “At some level, talks have happened with the PDP.”
He said that if the parties within the INDIA bloc agree that they need to defeat divisive forces and the BJP, they will have to unite.
He also said the final decision about a pre-poll alliance will be made by a five-member committee formed by the Congress high command.
He dismissed reports that Ghulam Nabi Azad might return to Congress. “It’s a closed chapter,” he said, adding that Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) has been "outrightly rejected" by the people for breaking away from Congress.
Congress working presidents Raman Bhalla and Tara Chand, along with senior leaders Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, GN Monga, and Muhammad Anwar Bhat, congratulated Karra on his new role.
In his speech to party workers, Karra said the focus would be to “channelise and then capitalize” on the positivity generated by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra to benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “It will help to end the constitutional, economic, and religious terrorism in this country,” he said.
The Congress has already started identifying potential candidates for assembly polls. Sources said the party will field more candidates in Jammu to challenge the BJP given a big jump in Congress’ vote share in the region in the Lok Sabha polls. The party led in seven assembly segments in Udaipur and Jammu Lok Sabha constituencies and recorded 18 per cent vote share against the BJP’s 24.
