Congress To Support NC Candidates In Jammu And Kashmir Rajya Sabha Polls, Says Farooq Abdullah

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.