Tariq Hameed Karra on J&K Assembly Elections: A Fight for Statehood and Dignity

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra stressed that the assembly elections are about restoring statehood, assembly powers, and lost dignity. He downplayed the role of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in affecting Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance's prospects and dismissed the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) as irrelevant.

In a compelling interview with PTI, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra emphasized that the upcoming assembly elections are crucial not merely for forming a government but for restoring statehood and the powers of the assembly, along with 'our lost dignity.'

Karra remained non-committal about whether the chief minister would hail from the National Conference (NC) should the Congress-NC alliance clinch victory, cautioning that it's too early to predict post-election developments.

He expressed confidence that the Congress-NC coalition would secure the required majority in the 90-member assembly, downplaying the potential impact of the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP. Karra also dismissed the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) as a 'closed case' with no future.

(With inputs from agencies.)