Early Times Report
Jammu, May 30: Amid two back-to-back statements of the Chief Election Commissioner to conduct Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir very soon, Congress leadership has stepped in to placate annoyed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form a grand alliance for assembly polls.
Highly placed sources in Congress said that the high command of the party has directed local leadership to start a dialogue with the PDP to form a grand alliance to give a tough fight to the BJP in the coming assembly elections in J&K.
Sources said that before starting a formal dialogue with the PDP, the Congress leadership will also take the National Conference leadership on the board to evolve a consensus.
“One thing has become clear without PDP the formation of a grand alliance is not possible so party leadership will take every step to involve all non-BJP forces in this process”, a Congress leader told The Early Times.
Sources said that the National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah is also ready to accommodate PDP in the assembly polls.
Wishing anonymity, the Congress leader admitted that during the Lok Sabha elections PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has repeatedly reiterated her commitment to remain Congress leadership has stepped in to placate annoyed PDP to form a grand alliance for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The party high command has directed local leadership to start a dialogue with the PDP to form a grand alliance to give a tough fight to the BJP.
Before starting a formal dialogue with the PDP, the Congress leadership will also take National Conference leadership on the board to evolve a consensus.
One thing has become clear, without PDP the formation of a grand alliance is not possible.
“Mehbooba Mufti’s positive attitude is a clear indication that she will not reject the proposal of the Congress to form a grand alliance in J&K ahead of the assembly elections”, the leader said.
Important to mention here that Mehbooba Mufti has repeatedly made it clear that her party is part and parcel of the INDIA) bloc.
She said that it is all due to her ideological commitment and efforts of the Congress party to save the constitution that her party continues to be a part of the INDIA block.
Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the BJP and its sister organizations are hell-bent on changing the constitution of the country so it is need of the hour to support opposition parties to save the constitution.
Although Mehbooba Mufti has reiterated her resolve to work for strengthening the INDIA bloc, the Congress party had preferred the National Conference over Mehbooba Mufti in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress party supported the National Conference on Anantnag-Rajouri, Srinagar, and Baramulla Parliamentary constituencies of Kashmir Valley despite the fact that the PDP has also fielded candidates for these three seats. | 