NC- Congress Pre-poll alliance: Deliberations on, no decision sofar: Soz

Srinagar: The state Congress chief Saif-ud-din Soz Monday stated that Congress is yet to take final call over entering into a pre-poll pact with its ally national conference.

“Congress is a big party. Deliberations are continuing at various levels so is the introspection. The party high command has not taken any decision on any issue including the pre-poll alliance for upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir so far,” Soz told KNS over phone. Reports earlier had maintained that the Congress party is reportedly much perturbed over the increasing strength of the BJP in Jammu region- that earlier used to be the bastion of the Congress. Congress is now looking for the alternatives to regain control over the its lost ground and it for this objective that voices are being raised that the party must enter into a pre-poll pact with the National Conference.

Interestingly, chief minister Omar Abdullah had kept the option of any pre-poll alliance with the Congress open- maintaining that the party president and his father Dr Farooq would take the final call over the issue once he returns to Jammu and Kashmir. Reports have also maintained that Omar in a deliberate move kept the decision of the pre-poll alliance in limbo as he was in full knowledge about the dangerous outcome for both Congress and NC if the duo decides to contest the polls separately.

On the other hand, opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has clearly denied to have given any nod to Congress of entering into any pre-poll alliance with it. The party has decided to contest the polls on its own- keeping in view the recent LS results wherein it swept all the three seats in valley.