Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 21: With the Lok Sabha elections looming on the horizon, the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir has been marked by intense negotiations and strategic moves among various parties.
The National Conference (NC), a key partner of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, has stirred the political cauldron by asserting its firm resolve to contest all Lok Sabha seats from Kashmir, showing reluctance to share any constituency with either the Congress or the PDP.
Recently, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti met Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi apparently to send a message to the J&K Congress leaders and the National Conference that her party cannot be ignored in the electoral landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said that Mehbooba Mufti reiterated her party's commitment to regional stability and development, emphasizing the need for a united front against the growing cha > Mehbooba Mufti meets Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi
> NC’s unwavering claim over the Kashmir seats major hurdle
> PDP needs to make significant concessions
An analyst while talking to Early Times said, “The National Conference's insistence on contesting all seats has not only created friction within the I.N.D.I.A. alliance but has also opened up opportunities for parties like the PDP to explore alternative alliances that could potentially reshape the political narrative in the region.”
He said, “The PDP has been facing political marginalization after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. It might be eyeing a revival through an alliance with the Congress and NC. However, the path to an alliance is fraught with challenges. NC's unwavering claim over the Kashmir seats creates a major hurdle.”
Sources within the Congress said that while the party is open to exploring alliances, it will not compromise its principles or cede ground on key issues. The PDP, on the other hand, might need to make significant concessions to accommodate the Congress's stance. | 