Congress Snubs NC Meeting Amid Growing Unease in Jammu Kashmir Coalition

SRINAGAR: As strains deepen within Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling alliance, the Congress party on Wednesday opted to stay away from a joint strategy session called by its coalition partner, the National Conference (NC), to discuss its strategy for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and the autumn session of the Legislative Assembly.

After a three-hour-long meeting chaired by President Pradesh Congress Committee Tariq Hamid Karra, the Congress party skipped the NC-convened strategy meeting to discuss Rajya Sabha polls and the autumn session of the Assembly. Karra said that the meeting remained inconclusive today and will resume on Thursday.

“The sentiments and suggestions put forth by our legislators are being shared with the high command. It was decided that, keeping in view the sensitivity of some important matters, today’s meeting has been adjourned until tomorrow for further discussions and consultations,” he said.

Karra said that it would be premature to assume Congress was in a dilemma over voting in the Rajya Sabha polls.

“I would request you not to jump to conclusions. I told you that every member had his opinion and suggestion and it was necessary to apprise the high command about it.

Based on our report, we have sought their guidance because central leadership’s involvement and guidance is necessary for a national party. That is why the meeting remained inconclusive and will resume tomorrow,” he said in response to a question on whether Congress was in a fix over voting in Rajya Sabha polls.

He said there is no doubt that the fact that confidence of Congress has shaken due to certain incidents.

The NC had extended invitations to all legislators of the ruling alliance, including six Congress MLAs, five independents, and CPI (M) MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, for the meeting scheduled at Hotel Radisson Collection.

The rift between the NC and Congress has been widening over the past two weeks, particularly after the NC denied Congress a safe seat in the Rajya Sabha elections. Instead, the NC offered a riskier seat, which Congress declined to contest. The NC also proposed the Nagrota Assembly seat to Congress, which was similarly rejected. (KNO)