Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 14: The National Conference (NC) and Congress might soon ink a pre-poll alliance for Jammu and Kashmir, with leaders of both the parties holding a meeting in Delhi today.
According to sources, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah are engaged in talks, trying to negotiate a favourable deal for both parties.
It is believed that the National Conference will help Congress in Jammu- where the two seats are currently in the BJP's kitty. The BJP made a clean sweep in Jammu in 2014 General elections, whereas in Kashmir, Congress is expected to throw weight behind NC candidates. Kashmir has three seats, all of which are held by Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP).
There are six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, three - Baramulla, Srinagar and Anantnag - in Kashmir, two - Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda - in Jammu, and one in Ladakh. The seat in Ladakh was also won by the BJP candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir Congress president travelled to New Delhi and held a string of meetings with the party leadership, reportedly for a probable alliance with Congress. |
