Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge's Strategic Meet with Farooq and Omar Abdullah: Alliance Talks for J&K Assembly Polls

Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met National Conference leaders Farooq and Omar Abdullah to discuss a potential pre-poll alliance for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The two parties are hopeful despite past electoral defeats and will finalize decisions at the leadership level.

In a bid to strategize ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday engaged in talks with the National Conference's leadership, including Farooq and Omar Abdullah. Discussions centred around a potential pre-poll alliance between the two parties.

The high-profile meeting took place at the Abdullahs' residence on Gupkar Road, following an interaction with Congress party workers. According to a Congress leader, both parties have been deliberating at the local level about the alliance, with three rounds of discussions already held.

The talks have reportedly been cordial, and leaders from both sides are hopeful of formalizing an alliance. However, the final decision will rest with the top leadership. The assembly polls will be conducted in three phases, with results announced on October 4, following significant past losses in the Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)