Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Cong caught in ‘Catch 22’ over Kashmir alliance support

Jammu, May 04: The Congress Party finds itself in a ‘catch-22’ situation as it weighs whether to extend support to its alliance partners, the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir.
The Congress, along with the PDP and NC, forms the INDIA alliance. While the Congress contested in two Lok Sabha seats in the Jammu region—Kathua-Udhampur-Doda and Jammu-Reasi—neither the NC nor the PDP fielded candidates in these constituencies, which went to polls in the first and second phases of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
However, in the remaining three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir region—Rajouri-Anantnag-Poonch, Srinagar, and Baramulla—the INDIA alliance partners, NC and PDP, have nominated their own candidates.
Amidst this complex and delicate scenario, the Congress, the largest party in the INDIA alliance, finds itself in a conundrum.
“The Congress is still undecided on which regional party it will extend support to and campaign for in the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir,” said Jammu Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President, Vikar Rasool, in response to queries from Rising Kashmir.
“We will extend our support and campaign for the party that seeks our assistance in Kashmir,” Rasool further added.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of the NC will contest from Srinagar, while another former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP, will contest from the Rajouri-Anantnag-Poonch Parliamentary constituency.