The NC-Congress alliance is set to face significant challenges in the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as several party deserters have decided to compete against the official nominees in various constituencies.
NC rebel leader and former MLA, Irfan Ahmad Shah, has filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from the Shalteng Central Assembly constituency.
He will be running against the Jammu Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Tariq Hamid Karra, who is the alliance’s candidate for the constituency.
This development is a major setback for Karra and the NC-Congress pre-poll alliance. Shah, who was not given a ticket under the seat-sharing agreement with Congress, stated, “I am contesting because the NC has consistently demoralised its workers. My people have compelled me to take this step.”
Meanwhile, NC Vice President Omar Abdullah is also facing a challenge from an alliance of rebels.
The Congress district president of Ganderbal, Sahil Farooq, has rebelled against his party and filed nomination papers against Omar.
Additionally, Congress J&K general secretary, Waseem Shalla, is contesting as an independent against veteran NC leader and six-time legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar.
"We were against alliances with NC as it was not in the party’s interest. Our workers were against it. I left the party to contest elections as an independent," Shalla explained.
Former Speaker of the J&K Assembly, Mubarak Gul, is up against former Congress Srinagar district president, Imtiyaz Khan. Among others who have rebelled against Congress is Asif Beigh, a former Congress Municipal Councillor from Habakadal.
Moreover, NC’s Dr Ghulam Nabi Bhat from Tral is now contesting against Congress leader Channi Singh in the same constituency.
The pre-poll alliance between NC and Congress aimed to consolidate their presence in Jammu and Kashmir. However, with defections and internal rebellions, the alliance faces a major hurdle that needs immediate resolution.
Both Karra and Omar are now contending against party deserters running as independents. Reacting to the situation on Friday, Omar said, "The BJP is putting up independent candidates to divide the vote share, as they don’t want me to win."
In this election, most of the major political figures, except a few, have avoided contesting directly against each other, aiming to ensure only the key candidates advance.
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