Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 9: Although Mehbooba Mufti is looking towards Congress to save the INDIA bloc in J&K, the leadership of the grand old party is reluctant to take the side of either the National Conference or the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Highly placed sources in the Congress said that after the adamant stand taken by the National Conference leadership against leaving any Lok Sabha seat of Kashmir Valley, the party has decided not to intervene in this matter.
“We do not want to indulge in the ongoing fight between the National Conference and the PDP. We will not field any candidate on three Parliamentary seats of Kashmir Valley to keep the both the coalition partners in good humours”, a senior Congress leader told The Early Times.
Wishing anonymity, the leader said that the friendly contest between the NC and PDP was imminent on three seats of K Congress leadership reluctant to side either with NC or PDP.
Congress has decided not to intervene in this matter.
Congress will not field any candidate on three Parliamentary seats of Kashmir.
Congress workers would vote in favour of winning candidate to ensure victory of INDIA bloc.
“We will only watch these contests among constituents of the INDIA bloc”, the leader said and admitted that all efforts of the Congress to avoid division of opposition votes failed.
Sources said that in case of a direct fight between NC and PDP candidates on three parliamentary seats of Kashmir, Congress workers would vote in favour of any only winning candidate to ensure victory of INDIA bloc candidates.
Important to mention here that after the National Conference dumped PDP Friday, Mehbooba Mufti threw the ball in Congress's court, saying it would come up with a decision after consulting the party, which is part of the INDIA bloc.
Mehbooba Mufti said that she was hurt after NC's decision as the party has done what BJP can't do by damaging the PAGD.
She also said that she would talk to Congress in this regard and would come up with a decision soon. | 