Post RS snub, Congress mulls over ‘essence of Coalition Dharma’
Jammu, Oct 14: “Coalition Dharma means more (focus) on mutual respect, trust, consultations and more on coalition interests than party interests. Rising or sinking together but more (focus) on ideological foundations.”
This was a subtle message, being conveyed obliquely, from one alliance partner to the other.
Still, nothing could convey the ‘hurt’ more eloquently than these words, though imbuing restraint yet also defining the status of the National Conference and Congress alliance in J&K.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma posted it on ‘X’, a day after his party was slighted by the alliance partner National Conference with the denial of a ‘safe slot’ in the biennial election to four vacant seats of Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir.
Intriguingly, despite the clear snub, the Congress, which finally decided not to contest at all, is still using the smokescreen of a ‘restraint and calm’ at least in public discourse so as to avoid its fallout on its “assembly by-pollnomics.”
On the surface of it, the biennial elections to four vacant seats of Rajya Sabha (RS) from J&K and by-polls to Budgam and Nagrota assembly segments will altogether be two different processes. But they have overlapping political layers.
‘Once bitten twice shy’ - the Congress does not want yet again “a friendly contest with NC in Nagrota” - spelling an electoral doom for it (Congress) against BJP.
Hence, it is pursuing the doctrine of restraint so as not to spoil the prospects of its “seat-sharing negotiations” with the NC for assembly by-polls.
It (Congress), therefore, does not want to have a “full blown-out crisis situation” with the alliance partner till October 20 – the last date for filing nominations for Budgam and Nagrota assembly segments.
“It was not in the spirit of coalition Dharma to backtrack (on the part of NC) after promising ‘safe slot’ to our high command. We decided not to contest RS polls to express our polite reservations. For us, the bigger objective was to keep BJP away. We are stuck to our principles. Proper consultations could have avoided this impasse,” JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma stated, while responding to Greater Kashmir queries.
He asserted, “For Congress, the seat is not important, treatment (to coalition partners) is. This was just one seat. Congress has 150 plus seats in the Parliament.”
Will the Congress abstain from RS polls, response to this query was, “No decision has been taken yet on this account. Our mission is still to keep the BJP away. NC will need all non-BJP legislators to win the fourth seat. It depends upon their (NC's) persuasive skills and how they behave.”
With regard to Nagrota, Budgam by-polls, Sharma said that the channels of communication were open. “We are still having a dialogue on this issue. Whatever decision is taken by the coalition leadership, it will be acceptable. It will be honoured.”
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party may announce its candidates for Nagrota and Budgam assembly by-polls tomorrow.The
Budgam seat fell vacant after the resignation of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah from this assembly segment on October 21, 2024. He contested from two seats i.e., Budgam and Ganderbal. Later he vacated Budgam seat and decided to retain the Ganderbal seat- his family’s bastion.
Nagrota seat had fallen vacant due to the sudden demise of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024.
Unlike 2024 assembly elections, the by-polls will not be a cake-walk for any party, be it NC, BJP or Congress and nowhere – neither in Nagrota nor in Budgam.
