J&K Assembly Election: PDP Drops Hint On Joining NC-Congress Alliance In Event Of Hung Assembly

J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah both expressed confidence on Sunday that their alliance would secure a comfortable majority when the Assembly election results are announced on Tuesday.

They also reiterated that the alliance remains open to like-minded parties and politicians to prevent the BJP from coming to power.

Their optimism follows exit polls which suggest an advantage for the NC-Congress alliance.

Meanwhile, Zuhaib Yousuf Mir, the PDP candidate for Srinagar's Lal Chowk constituency, hinted on Saturday that his party might join the coalition.

"The PDP will have an important role in forming any secular government... We are ready to take any step to safeguard the identity of Kashmir, but for that, it's essential we form a secular government, one that stands against BJP, not with them," said Mir.

Abdullah welcomed Mir's comments, saying: "Congratulations to them, this is excellent news. We are all on the same page. We need to end the division and maintain unity in Jammu and Kashmir."

However, the former Chief Minister stopped short of commenting directly on the exit polls. "What I do know is that the Congress-NC alliance will be forming the government with a majority."

Karra, who is standing in Srinagar's Central Shalteng constituency, held discussions with Congress candidates from the Jammu region, a known BJP stronghold.

"The alliance will secure a comfortable majority, and both partners will secure very good numbers," he predicted, adding that the final results would surpass the exit poll projections.

With the PDP signalling its possible support for the NC-Congress alliance in the event of a hung assembly, Karra stated that any party with the shared goal of keeping BJP out of office in the Union Territory is welcome to join the coalition.

Karra was one of the founding members of the PDP when ex-Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed established the party in 1999. He joined Congress in 2017 after leaving the PDP, which is now led by Mehbooba Mufti. Karra rose to prominence in 2014 when he defeated NC leader Abdullah in the Srinagar Lok Sabha election.

These elections mark the first in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the region's reorganisation into two Union Territories, including Ladakh. The new J&K Assembly will consist of 95 members - 90 elected and five nominated by the lieutenant governor.

Speaking on the prospect of the LG nominating five MLAs, Karra warned that it would amount to "rigging the poll results and undermining the people's mandate". He added, "Congress will oppose it tooth and nail. Congress will not allow the BJP to succeed in its plans."