NC, Congress assembly poll alliance formed: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) and Congress have formed an alliance for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections and also included CPI (M) in it.

This was revealed by NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah at a press conference here after a meeting between the leaders of the two parties. Among others, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Tariq Hamid Karra attended the meeting.

Rahul Gandhi and Kharge arrived here last evening.

After addressing the Congress workers' meeting this morning they made brief statements at a press conference without taking any questions. They later drove to the residence of Dr Farooq
Abdullah where a meeting was held with NC leaders and the decision was taken to join hands to form the poll alliance.

In his media interaction, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the alliance has been made for all the 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It was a very good meeting with Congress leaders and took place in a cordial atmosphere. Alliance is on track and God willing it will smoothly run. The alliance has been finalised and this evening it will be signed," he said.

Asked whether the PDP will also be part of the alliance in view of Rahul Gandhi's statement that all opposition parties must fight together, Farooq said, "Congress and NC have formed the alliance and CPI (M) is also with us. I hope that our people are with us and we will win with an impressive majority and do good for the people."

When asked again whether there is any chance for the PDP in the alliance, the NC President said," Let us fight polls and then we will look into these things. No door is closed for anybody."

He stated that for the last 10 years the people here have suffered immensely. "We hope that the statehood is restored fully and we will make efforts for its restoration. Statehood is important for us and a promise has been made for its restoration. This state has seen very bad days and we hope that J&K gets all the powers. We will work for that with the INDIA bloc. Our common programme is to fight the election and defeat divisive forces that exist in the country," NC President said.

Asked whether Congress is on the same page with NC on the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, Dr Farooq Abdullah told the media person to ask that question to Congress. "But as far as NC is concerned, restoration of Article 370 and 35 A is our first objective," he said.

To a question regarding how many seats the NC will get and how many the Congress in the alliance for contesting, the NC President said that is to be announced after some days when the list of candidates for the first phase will be released. "We will be releasing the candidates' lists phase-wise," he said.

Dr Farooq Abdullah refused to reply to a question whether he would contest the assembly polls or not. "Please do not ask me this question," he said in a lighter vein.