SRI NAGAR: A day after the Congress decided to go it alone in forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, differences have surfaced among party leaders over continuation in the coalition government with its ally National Conference (NC).
“The decision of party high command to go it alone in J&K Assembly elections, scheduled to be held later this year, has rejuvenated the party leaders and workers,” state Congress vice-president Abdul Gani Vakil said.
Stating that people are interested in one party rule and want an end to era of uncertainty and sentimental politics, he said the decision not to forge any pre-poll alliance with the NC will help the party to secure its political space in the state.
Vakil said the party should come out of coalition government. “The party should reconsider its decision of supporting NC-led government. There will be uncertainty in the government now, which will affect its working.”
He said continuation of the Congress in the coalition will add to the problems of the people owing to uncertainty. “We don’t want to face anger of the people, which is against the NC.”
“The Congress must come out of the coalition government and support it from outside for remaining period so that there is no place for conflict of interests and party does not receive any new jolt for poor performance or governance deficit,” added Vakil.
Asked whether things in the state are moving towards early election, he said, “Things are moving towards it and nothing can be ruled out.”
Another J&K Congress vice-president and MLC Ghulam Nabi Monga, said the party’s decision not to forge any pre-poll alliance with the NC has delighted the workers and leaders. “They feel that their aspirations are being respected by the party high command. The party workers and leaders had been pressing the high command to go it alone in the Assembly polls and s high command has respected their wishes,” he said.
Monga said except for the 1987 elections, Congress has never formed any pre-poll alliance with any party for Assembly elections , here. He said the party did not contest 2002 and 2008 Assembly polls in alliance with any party and formed government with the PDP in 2002 and the NC in 2008.
Asked whether there is justification for the party to continue in coalition government after deciding not to contest Assembly polls in arrangement with the NC, Monga said, “These are two separate things and should not be linked. The party has decided not to forge pre-poll alliance for Assembly polls while the NC-Congress coalition government was formed after 2008 elections,” he said adding the government will continue till it takes pro-people decisions.