Both the NC and PDP are integral members of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), commonly referred to as the Gupkar Alliance.
The National Conference (NC) took a firm stand on Friday, announcing it won’t be engaging in any seat-sharing agreement with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
This decision dealt a significant blow to the opposition INDIA bloc, bringing to the fore the growing divide between the two regional parties. NC leader Omar Abdullah”s remarks underscored the deepening discord, with both parties opting to contest the elections independently.
“I have told you… the party that is No. 3 has no right to ask for a seat. If I had been told, before joining INDIA, we would have to weaken ourselves for another member, I would have never joined,” Abdullah said.
His statement came in response to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti”s declaration that her party too would fight the elections independently.
“Since they (the National Conference) have already taken a decision… we will discuss it. There will be deliberations and a future course of action will be decided (soon),” the PDP”s Suhail Bukhari said.
Jammu and Kashmir has five Lok Sabha seats, with two located in the Jammu region, which were clinched by the BJP in 2019, and three seats situated in the Kashmir Valley, secured by the NC. The Union Territory of Ladakh holds one Lok Sabha seat, currently with the BJP.
Last month, Farooq Abdullah announced that the NC would contest the elections autonomously.
“As far as seat sharing is concerned, I want to make it clear NC will contest elections on its own. There should be no questions on this…” he had said. Hours later Omar Abdullah moved swiftly to allay concerns, emphasizing that the NC remains firmly aligned with INDIA.
Farooq Abdullah”s remarks were interpreted as a signal of concern regarding the impasse between his party, the PDP, and the Congress in reaching a seat-sharing agreement.
Amid the ongoing exchanges, Omar Abdullah has also made it abundantly clear that the National Conference will not be forming an alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
“Let me make it clear… there is no window, or even a crack, open for the NDA… there is no possibility of us joining them,” he said in response to speculation the NC would quit INDIA.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the NC, under Abdullah”s leadership, divided the six seats between them. The BJP emerged victorious in Ladakh, Udhampur, and Jammu, while the NC won Baramulla, Srinagar, and Anantnag.
Despite contesting all six seats, the PDP failed to secure any victories, ending with an overall vote share of less than four percent. Meanwhile, the NC garnered a vote share of just under eight percent. The Congress, although unsuccessful in winning any seats, got approximately 28 percent of the votes.
Discussions regarding the 2024 election have reportedly hit a roadblock due to the PDP”s insistence on acquiring the Anantnag seat, currently held by the NC. This seat was previously claimed by Mufti in 2004 and 2014. Mufti”s father and former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, won the seat in 1998 when he was with the Congress.
Both the NC and PDP are integral members of the People”s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), commonly referred to as the Gupkar Alliance. This coalition was established by various parties in Jammu and Kashmir with the aim of advocating for the restoration of Article 370.
Since its inception, the alliance has cooperated in contests such as the District Development Council elections and has aligned on numerous issues. However, political experts now feel that the alliance is nearing its end.
