National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah has signaled a willingness to compromise with the Congress party on three seats in the upcoming elections, indicating a flexible approach to seat-sharing negotiations. Abdullah emphasized that his party was not rigid in its stance, contrasting their approach with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, which contested all seats in West Bengal without leaving any for Congress.
“We are not rigid. If we were rigid, then we would have declared our candidates on all six seats like Mamata Banerjee. We are not fielding our candidates on 50% of the seats,” Omar Abdullah stated, underscoring the National Conference’s openness to accommodating the Congress party’s interests.
Abdullah’s remarks came amid discussions about seat-sharing arrangements between the National Conference and the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed a willingness to compromise by offering three seats to the Congress, highlighting the spirit of cooperation within the opposition alliance.
The reported statement from Omar Abdullah also suggested the possibility of the Congress party offering seats in Jammu to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), indicating potential realignments within the broader opposition coalition.
Despite initial tensions over seat allocations within the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which comprises several regional parties advocating for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Omar Abdullah expressed optimism about ongoing discussions with the Congress. He indicated that talks were progressing positively and expressed confidence in reaching an agreement soon.
The developments followed criticism from PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who expressed disappointment over the National Conference’s decision to contest all three Lok Sabha constituencies in Kashmir. Mufti accused the National Conference of undermining the PAGD, a coalition formed to advocate for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status following its revocation by the central government in 2019.
Mufti’s remarks underscored the challenges facing opposition unity in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly within the context of divergent electoral strategies pursued by different parties. However, she affirmed her party’s commitment to engaging with the Congress as part of the broader INDIA alliance, emphasizing the need to explore avenues for cooperation moving forward.
The evolving dynamics within the opposition camp in Jammu and Kashmir reflect broader strategic calculations ahead of the upcoming elections. While the National Conference’s willingness to compromise with the Congress signals a pragmatic approach to coalition politics, challenges remain in reconciling divergent interests and priorities within the opposition alliance.
As negotiations continue and alliances take shape, the outcome of seat-sharing discussions will likely influence the electoral landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, shaping the prospects for opposition unity and the contestation of political power in the region.