Jammu and Kashmir's ruling party, the National Conference (NC) led by Omar Abdullah, has consistently kept its distance from the Congress’s ‘vote chori’ campaign, despite being a part of the broader INDIA opposition bloc and an alliance partner of the Congress in the Union Territory.
Omar Abdullah recently said that the INDIA alliance's parties were not bound to adopt identical political agendas. According to him, while the Congress had chosen to stress on issues like SIR and alleged vote manipulation, other parties were free to prioritise matters they considered relevant.
In that sense, each constituent of the alliance has autonomy over its political messaging. This position, however, contrasts with the broader stance adopted by several INDIA bloc partners.
Parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Left parties, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, RJD—and even the bloc’s estranged partner, the Aam Aadmi Party—have repeatedly raised concerns over the timing of the SIR exercise and alleged electoral irregularities.
Many of their leaders have also publicly backed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on these issues.
On December 14, the Congress organised a large rally in the national capital to intensify its ‘vote chori’ campaign, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of influencing the Election Commission to manipulate the electoral process. Both the BJP and the poll body have strongly rejected these allegations.
Political observers believe that the NC’s cautious approach stems from its long-standing attempt to maintain workable relations with the party in power at the Centre. According to them, Omar Abdullah appears to be balancing his role within the opposition bloc, while also signalling political restraint towards the BJP.
Analysts point out that issues like SIR do not have the same political resonance in Kashmir as they might elsewhere. They also note that the NC leadership is aware of the BJP’s limited electoral prospects in the region.
At the same time, Omar Abdullah’s relatively softened tone towards the BJP is seen as being influenced by expectations around the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood: a decision that rests with the Centre.
Within Jammu and Kashmir, this approach has led to perceptions that the National Conference does not always project itself as an active and coordinated member of the opposition alliance. Congress leaders in the region have privately expressed concern over the lack of structured coordination between the two parties.
A Congress MLA from Kashmir pointed out that there is no formal coordination committee and little regular communication between the alliance partners.
This has contributed to visible unease within the Congress cadre, sections of which remain dissatisfied with the alliance arrangement. Some leaders argue that the party should reconsider its participation in the ruling dispensation.
Senior Congress leaders acknowledge that the state unit has been debating a possible exit from the alliance, but maintain that any final decision rests with the central leadership. At the same time, the Congress is wary of triggering political instability that could indirectly benefit the BJP.
If a withdrawal were to destabilise the NC-led government, it could open the door for the BJP to influence governance in the Union Territory—an outcome the Congress wants to avoid.