PDP and NC to Contest Separately in Kashmir Lok Sabha Elections

Srinagar, Apr 3 - The PDP and the National Conference, two INDIA bloc partners in Jammu and Kashmir, will be competing against each other for the three Lok Sabha seats in the valley. The PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, accused National Conference NC vice president Omar Abdullah of leaving them with no choice. However, Abdullah countered by saying that the PDP was reneging on the understanding reached between the constituents of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration PAGD for the District Development Council DDC elections in 2020.Bharatsinh Solanki, Congress's J-K in-charge, said they tried their best to resolve the differences between PDP and NC. He expressed confidence that with the support of the people, the bloc would succeed in its mission to eliminate the BJP from J-K. Mehbooba told reporters that her party had no option but to contest the election on the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir due to NC's actions.The PDP's parliamentary board will make a final decision on the candidates. While discussing seat-sharing with Congress in J-K, NC had made it clear that they would contest the three valley seats as they had won these in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. As part of the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing agreement, NC left two seats in Jammu for Congress.Mehbooba emphasized the need for political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to remain united after the Centre revoked the erstwhile state's special status in August 2019. She expressed disappointment and hurt at NC leadership's attitude. She said if NC had consulted PDP before announcing their decision to contest all three seats in Kashmir unilaterally, her party might have decided not to field candidates in larger interests of Kashmir.Abdullah denied making any remarks about PDP and said they were going back on the understanding reached for DDC polls where parties having won seats would field their candidates. He added that since there was no scope for seat sharing with PDP in parliamentary polls, they would keep a scope for assembly elections.On DPAP founder Ghulam Nabi Azad entering the fray for Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, Abdullah expressed surprise and said there must be something more than meets the eye. He could not say anything about the reason and under what pressure Azad decided to contest from Anantnag.All India Congress Committee joint secretary Manoj Yadav urged people to teach BJP a lesson for downgrading the state to a Union Territory. He said Congress and its allies would win this election as people are aware that BJP wants to hold democracy hostage.