Srinagar, Aug 24: Two days after announcing a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections, the National Conference (NC) and Congress are dealing with internal revolt over seat distribution.
Jammu and Kashmir is preparing for its first Assembly elections since becoming a Union Territory in 2019, and its first in ten years. The elections, which will be conducted across 90 seats, are scheduled in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes set for October 4.
However, disagreements over certain seats remain unresolved.
Similarly Congress workers also held a protest against seat distribution.
NC senior leader Sajjad Shaheen publicly opposed the alliance during a rally in Banihal, expressing confidence that he would secure the party’s nomination for the Banihal seat. However, Vikar Rasool Wani, a senior Congress leader and former JKPCC President, has emerged as a potential candidate for Banihal under the NC-Congress alliance.
Shaheen voiced concerns that the alliance might grant Wani the candidacy for Banihal, which he strongly opposed.
The NC leader urged the party’s senior leadership not to cede the Banihal seat, warning that the alliance could undermine his two decades of political work in the area.
Discontent is also brewing over the Uri seat, where the NC has a prominent leader, but Congress’s Taj Mohiuddin, who recently rejoined the party, is expected to receive the nomination.
A senior Congress leader noted that the party performed well in the Jammu division during the last Lok Sabha elections and has the potential to challenge the BJP in several key seats. “However, conceding these seats to the NC could damage Congress’s prospects, potentially sidelining leaders who have served the party faithfully over the past decade. This is not acceptable to Congress leaders and workers,” the leader added.
There is also disagreement over some seats of Srinagar and Baramulla.
