Ahead of J&K Rajya Sabha byelections, Congress and PDP extend support to NC

The Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday formally extended their support to the ruling National Conference (NC), a day ahead of the byelections for the four Rajya Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Taking into account our sensitivities as a suffering state and our identity as a tested voice for a diverse and secular India, the Congress Party has decided to keep all differences with the NC on the back burner, solely to reaffirm our commitment to our own ethos and principles,” J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra said.

Mr. Karra admitted that the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections posed “a new challenge,” while referring to growing differences with the coalition partner NC. “We sincerely hope that the NC keeps its flock together against all temptations and manipulations, and in that endeavour, we extend our full support. All our six Congress MLAs will support NC,” he said.

He added that during the 2024 elections, the party chose unity over division, ignoring all dissenting voices, “to defeat the BJP and free the people of Jammu and Kashmir from a climate of fear and suppression.” “In keeping with our political culture and moral uprightness, we refuse to act out of expediency,” Mr. Karra said.

Opposition PDP, which has three legislators in the J&K Assembly, also offered support to the NC. “The PDP will back NC candidate Shammi Oberoi as a third preference to prevent BJP gains. We are giving our three votes to the NC’s third candidate. This is to ensure that if the BJP wins the fourth seat, blame is not placed on us,” PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said.

She added that, in exchange for the support, the PDP expected backing for the Land Rights Bill and the Daily Wager Regularisation Bill introduced in the Assembly in the ongoing session. “NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah sahab called me and asked for our party’s support. I told him that we need two bills to be passed in the Assembly first,” Ms. Mufti said.

The current arithmetic suggests that the ruling NC could win three seats, while the BJP may secure the fourth. At present, the 90-member J&K Legislative Assembly has 88 legislators, with the Budgam and Nagrota seats vacant. The NC-Congress combine holds the largest bloc of 52 MLAs, including NC’s 41, Congress’ six, and independents. The BJP has 27 seats.

Independents and smaller parties remain crucial for the two remaining Rajya Sabha seats. The J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) has one MLA, the Awami Ittehad Party one MLA, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) one MLA. JKPC has decided to abstain from voting, while AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, currently in jail, is expected to be provided with a ballot box.

Meanwhile, the NC has issued a whip to its MLAs, directing them against abstaining, remaining absent, or voting contrary to party directions. The NC has fielded candidates for all four seats, while the opposition BJP has named three candidates.