| Budget Session: NC reaches out to ‘sulking’ Congress | | CM Omar chairs joint meeting of allies, seeks support for smooth passage of bills | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 2: On the eve of Jammu and Kashmir’s first budget session after
a gap of seven years, the ruling National Conference (NC) on Sunday reached out to its “disgruntled” coalition partner, the Congress, seeking its support to ensure smooth proceedings in the House.
The outreach came during a joint meeting of coalition partners, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu. This was the first formal meeting of all coalition parties since the formation of the NC-led government on October 16, 2024.
According to sources, the move was prompted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s aggressive posture, with the party announcing plans to introduce three crucial bills during the budget session. To counter potential challenges from the opposition benches, the NC leadership is keen to keep the Congress on its side, despite having earlier sidelined the party after securing a working majority with the support of five Independent MLAs.
The joint meeting was attended by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir, CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami, and other coalition leaders. Earlier in the day, Omar Abdullah chaired a separate meeting of NC legislators at his official residence, while the Congress legislative party met at the party’s Residency Road headqu The outreach came during a joint meeting of coalition partners, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu.
This was the first formal meeting of all coalition parties since the formation of the NC-led government on October 16, 2024.
The move was prompted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s aggressive posture, with the party announcing plans to introduce three crucial bills.
The first budget session of the newly elected Assembly is expected to witness stormy proceedings.
Addressing party MLAs, G A Mir asserted that the Congress Party would demand the fulfillment of guarantees made during the elections, including addressing unemployment, socio-economic distress, stalled development projects, and regularisation of daily wagers and casual labourers working in various departments for decades.
Mir also said the party would press for a rollback of the “unjustified electricity tariff”, terming it a major contributor to the economic hardships faced by people in the Union Territory.
“We will ensure that issues of economic backwardness, tax terrorism, smart meters, lack of development, and rising unemployment are forcefully raised in the House. The Congress is duty-bound to fight for public issues and secure relief for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Mir said.
The Congress leader reiterated that the party will push for the fulfillment of all electoral promises during the budget session and will seek comprehensive debates on key public grievances.
The first budget session of the newly elected Assembly, which begins Monday, is expected to witness stormy proceedings, with both the opposition and coalition partners gearing up for heated debates over governance issues, public welfare, and development concerns. |
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