National Conference-Congress Alliance: A Decade Later, A New Pre-Poll Tie-Up

The political landscape in Jammu & Kashmir is heating up as the countdown to the elections begins. With less than a month to go before voting, the National Conference (NC) and Congress have officially announced a pre-poll alliance, marking their first collaboration for an assembly election since 2008. Leaders from both parties held a late-night meeting in Srinagar on Wednesday, finalizing their decision to join forces, with seat-sharing talks currently underway. According to the initial discussions, the Congress is expected to contest 12 seats in the Kashmir Valley, while the National Conference will likely be allocated 12 seats in the Jammu division. A key focus of their alliance is the demand for statehood for Jammu & Kashmir, which has been identified as a top priority. The announcement comes amid growing speculation of a rift within the broader INDIA bloc, making this alliance all the more significant. With the National Conference-Congress partnership revived after a decade, this pre-poll tie-up could play a crucial role in the upcoming elections. Prominent leaders, including Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi, have emphasized the importance of this collaboration, while Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also expressed his support, underscoring the historic nature of this alliance.