Congress will not be part of the new Jammu and Kashmir government, even though it allied with Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) to win the recent election. Sources revealed the party declined an offer of a ministerial berth in the incoming government. Instead, Congress has decided to offer outside support.
However, top Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are expected to attend Omar Abdullah’s swearing-in. The event may see eight ministers taking the oath alongside Abdullah, who will become the first elected Chief Minister of J&K in a decade.
Omar Abdullah’s victory in the September-October elections marked a significant comeback for him after a recent defeat in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat race. Abdullah won two assembly seats—Budgam and Ganderbal. Following his win, he emphasized his government’s focus on restoring J&K’s statehood, revoked after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. He told ANI, “We have a lot to do. We need to give people hope… that this is their government, and they will be heard.”
The NC dominated the elections, securing 42 out of 90 seats. Congress, despite earlier expectations, won only six seats, significantly down from its 2014 tally of 12. This allowed NC to take the lead in the alliance and name Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister. NC’s position was further solidified by the support of four independents and a lone Aam Aadmi Party legislator.
The Congress’ weak performance in J&K, coupled with its loss to BJP in Haryana, has drawn criticism from allies in the INDIA bloc. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction, in an editorial, criticized Congress’ inability to align with regional parties, calling it a missed opportunity. The editorial pointed out the party’s failure to work effectively with allies in past elections, notably in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Congress has acknowledged the need for change before upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge met with key leaders, including Hemant Soren, to discuss the strategy moving forward.
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