Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of the National Conference (NC), announced on Friday that his party has decided not to enter into a seat-sharing pact with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. This decision signals a significant rift within the I.N.D.I alliance, indicating emerging disagreements between the two major regional forces in the Kashmir Valley as the elections approach.
Abdullah articulated the party's stance, stating, “The party leadership has resolved to not allocate any seats to the PDP in Kashmir,” highlighting a strategic move to contest the elections independently. He critiqued the PDP's electoral performance, suggesting it did not justify their claim to the seats, and remarked, "The third-place party has no right to ask for a seat. If I had known that joining INDIA meant weakening our party for another, I wouldn't have agreed."
The development follows PDP President Mehbooba Mufti's declaration of her party's intention to contest solo in the elections, planning to field candidates for Jammu and Kashmir's five seats and one in Ladakh. This unilateral move by both parties underscores a clear division in their strategies and priorities ahead of the polls.
However, Abdullah hinted at potential collaboration with the Congress for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, contingent on the PDP's stance in the Lok Sabha elections. He mentioned ongoing discussions about seat sharing with the Congress, with the national party possibly contesting two seats in the Jammu region.
The deadlock over seat-sharing discussions appears to have been influenced by the PDP's insistence on the Anantnag seat, currently held by the NC but historically won by Mehbooba Mufti and her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NC and the BJP each secured three of the six seats, while the PDP, contesting all seats, ended with a mere 4% vote share.
Abdullah also addressed the counterproductive nature of personal attacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referencing RJD chairman Lalu Prasad Yadav's comments and the 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' slogan from the previous election campaign. He cautioned that such tactics often backfire on the opposition.
Reflecting on his party's participation in the INDIA alliance, Abdullah expressed regret, suggesting that had he known it would entail compromising his party's interests, he would have reconsidered the decision. This candid admission reveals Abdullah's strategic considerations and his focus on preserving his party's autonomy and strength in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
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