Struggles and Aspirations: Congress and NC's Quest in Jammu & Kashmir

The recent Jammu and Kashmir elections saw Congress and the National Conference (NC) struggling to make an impact in Jammu against the BJP. The alliance aimed to challenge BJP stronghold but fell short. The restoration of statehood remains a priority, with leaders calling for central government support.

In the aftermath of the recent Jammu and Kashmir elections, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir conceded that the alliance between Congress and the National Conference (NC) struggled to counter the BJP's strong influence in Jammu. Speaking on Friday, Mir discussed the alliance's primary goal of challenging the BJP's dominance in Jammu, which sadly did not yield the desired results.

"The contest was fierce in Jammu," Mir noted, adding that the NC managed to win only two to three seats. "We formed an alliance to curb BJP's dominance, but neither NC nor Congress made significant breakthroughs," he remarked. Mir underscored that restoring the statehood of the union territory is of paramount importance and must be prioritized by any newly-formed government.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah expressed gratitude to the people for endorsing the NC-Congress partnership. He voiced his hope for fair treatment by the central government, initiating discussions on statehood restoration, which he emphasized as the alliance's immediate focus. Abdullah highlighted the strategic importance of Jammu and Kashmir, urging the central administration to cooperate fully for its development and problems alleviation, especially given its geographical significance.

(With inputs from agencies.)