In a significant development, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah announced that the party will not form any pre-poll alliances for the upcoming elections, opting to contest independently.
The decision comes as the NC aims to regain seats held by the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah clarified that while the NC is open to seat-sharing talks with the INDIA bloc on seats won by the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections, there have been no discussions on this yet.
He emphasised that the party's focus is on reclaiming seats from the BJP and not on internal disputes within the bloc.
The Congress's proposal for a joint front that includes both NC and PDP against the BJP faces fresh challenges following the NC's stance.
The PDP, which is also interested in aligning against the BJP, may need to reconsider its strategy in light of the NC's decision.
Meanwhile, there are indications of shifting alliances, with former PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig potentially seeking a mandate from the PDP for Lok Sabha polls in certain constituencies. This suggests a complex political landscape in the region.
The BJP's efforts to expand its base by conferring Scheduled Tribe status to Paharis could impact the upcoming elections, particularly in the Anantnag-Pir Panjal constituency.
Overall, the political dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir are evolving, with parties redefining their strategies and alliances ahead of the polls.
Observers believe that the failure of INDIA bloc parties to agree to a seat sharing in Jammu and Kashmir will benefit the BJP.
