Congress says earlier understanding with NC on Rajya Sabha seat not followed up
AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Monday said that the National Conference (NC) leadership had earlier assured the Congress of a “safe” seat for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections but did not follow through on the commitment.
Mir told reporters that the assurance was conveyed at the highest level in New Delhi. “The Congress had planned to contest one seat, provided it was a safe one. We wanted to be allocated either the first, second, or third seat. It was clearly communicated that Congress should nominate its candidate for such a seat. But when the modalities were being finalised, there was no communication from NC. Later, we were informed that Congress should contest the fourth seat,” he said.
The Congress leader accused the National Conference of not taking alliance partners or like-minded parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party, Sajad Gani Lone, and other MLAs into confidence during the Rajya Sabha seat finalisation process.
“We firmly believe that none of the 60 non-BJP members in the J&K Assembly would have supported the BJP. It was crucial to consult them before deciding on candidates, but that didn’t happen,” Mir said, adding that it was the responsibility of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure broader consultation within the alliance.
Mir further alleged that a similar lack of coordination was visible during the formation of the Council of Ministers. “The Congress decided not to join the government until there were broader discussions. The coalition was not meant for sharing ministerial positions alone but for addressing the pressing issues of the people through meaningful deliberations,” he said.
He added that over the past year, there has been “no coordination or deliberation” between the alliance partners, reflecting a growing disconnect within the coalition.
