The politics of Jammu and Kashmir has now reached a new turning point. In which the deadlock between the ruling coalition may either increase or all apprehensions may come to an end completely. That is why Congress Committee President Tariq Hamid Karra has called a meeting of Congress MLAs on Wednesday before the joint meeting of MLAs. In the meeting, along with discussing relations with the National Conference, discussions are also expected on the functioning of the government.

The meeting of India Alliance is to be held at Hotel Radisson in Srinagar regarding the Rajya Sabha elections and Assembly by-elections to be held on October 24. Which will be presided over by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Signs of resolution of alliance issues

A senior leader of the National Conference, on the condition of anonymity, said that the meeting is taking place, but there is little possibility of giving a statement on any controversial issue before or after the start of the session. The party hopes that all the issues will be resolved before the session and voting.

Controversy has increased regarding Rajya Sabha seat

Tension is at its peak between Congress and National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir regarding seat sharing for four Rajya Sabha seats and assembly by-elections. Congress has refused to contest the Rajya Sabha elections, accusing NC of not giving ‘safe seat’. State Congress President Karra had said after the core committee meeting on October 12 that the Congress high command had asked for one of the two separate notification seats, but the conference offered a general notification seat, which is not safe. Therefore we will not contest elections. NC has announced its candidates for three seats, while the alliance candidate on the fourth seat needs all the anti-BJP votes to win.

Now due to Congress’s refusal, BJP can easily get two Rajya Sabha seats, due to which the conference is nervous. National Conference is trying to bring Congress back in a last ditch effort to save Rajya Sabha seats.

Rumors of alliance breaking dismissed

Whereas, Congress has shocked the National Conference by refusing to contest elections from Nagrota Assembly seat also. Rejecting rumors of alliance break, the Congress leadership has promised that six party MLAs will vote in favor of National Conference candidates. With the support of MLAs from PDP, People’s Conference, Awami Ittehad Party and AAP, the alliance is also at stake on the fourth seat.

There was a dispute between the National Conference and Congress regarding the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Actually, Congress has refused to contest the Rajya Sabha elections. The party says that we had demanded a reserved seat from NC, which we did not get. Now State President Tariq Hameed Karra said that our trust has been broken.

State Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday (October 13) said the National Conference (NC)’s “backdown” from its commitment to the Congress leadership regarding the Rajya Sabha elections shows that it is reconsidering its ties with the Indian block. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Monday, Karra said that the NC leadership had assured Congress of allotting a reserved seat.

He said, “We were told that we would be allotted a safe seat, first or second. When the NC was adamant on giving us the fourth seat, which was considered unsafe, we called a core committee meeting. It was unanimously decided that we should not contest an election in which there is a possibility of our defeat. The committee also expressed displeasure over the backtracking on the promises made at the level of Sonia ji and Kharge ji.”

‘Wrote a letter to Omar Abdullah’

He further said that the NC leadership told that there will be no compromise on anything beyond the fourth seat. Karra further said, “When Mir Sahab and I sent a joint letter to Omar Sahab, he instructed us to talk to Farooq Sahab. Farooq Sahab’s answer was clear in itself. He told us that he was ready to discuss only the fourth seat.”

‘Our trust has been broken’

When asked whether the NC had betrayed the Congress, Tariq Karra replied, “I wouldn’t use the word betrayal. But our trust has been broken.” He further said that the NC’s actions indicate that it is reconsidering its relations with the India block.

Hameed Karra also said, “It is not that the agreement with NC in Jammu and Kashmir remains incomplete. But this also indicates that NC is considering whether it should remain in the India block.”

‘Will not give statement on BJP’s irresponsible remarks’

On the statement of opposition leader Sunil Sharma calling Congress a puppet of National Conference, he said that I will not react to the irresponsible statements of BJP.