J&K Polls: Congress to Join Hands with...? Rahul Gandhi in Valley to Find the Answer

Srinagar, August 19, 2024: In a significant development ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, has arrived in Srinagar to explore potential alliances with regional parties. Their visit comes at a crucial time as political activity intensifies with the polls scheduled for next month.

Upon arrival at Srinagar airport, Gandhi was greeted with tight security before heading to a private hotel overlooking Dal Lake. He took a moment to acknowledge the media presence, signaling the importance of this visit.

During their stay, Gandhi and Kharge are expected to engage in a series of meetings with top Congress leaders today. Tomorrow, at around 10:30 AM, Gandhi will meet with district delegates at the Radisson Hotel in Rajbagh to strategize for the upcoming elections.

According to sources within the Congress party, there are ongoing discussions for a one-on-one meeting between Rahul Gandhi and National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. The focus of these talks is to finalize an alliance between the two parties, with preliminary discussions already indicating a collaboration against the BJP.

Congress Jammu and Kashmir unit president Tariq Hamid Qarra stated, "We are open to any party that opposes the BJP and wishes to join us in this electoral endeavor."

However, concerns have been raised about the National Conference's reservations regarding the inclusion of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which could complicate efforts to form a united opposition front.

Insiders suggest that the Congress and National Conference committees have finalized the alliance, and now only the high command's approval is pending. The alliance reportedly hinges on a fifty-fifty seat-sharing formula across J&K, based on the candidates' win-ability.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet district delegates of Congress at 10:30 AM tomorrow and will interact with the media at 11:30 AM. He is expected to fly to Jammu tomorrow afternoon before returning to Delhi later in the evening.