CongressAlliance – Internal Rift Deepens Over Congress-NC Partnership in Kashmir

CongressAlliance – The Congress party is witnessing growing internal unease in Jammu and Kashmir as several leaders have openly questioned the party’s continued alliance with the ruling National Conference ahead of the political developments linked to the 2024 Assembly elections.

Senior Leaders Raise Concerns Over Alliance Strategy

The disagreement within the party became more visible after former Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Viqar Rasool sharply criticized the alliance with the National Conference, describing it as one of the party’s most damaging political decisions in recent years.

Rasool argued that Congress workers across the Union Territory had not received any political or organizational benefit from supporting the NC-led administration. According to him, the alliance failed to strengthen the Congress at the grassroots level despite the party extending full support during the election process and afterward.

He also questioned the functioning of the current leadership within the Jammu and Kashmir Congress unit. Without holding back, Rasool alleged that the political interests of a large number of constituencies were ignored for the benefit of only a few leaders and what he referred to as “protocol-driven politics.”

Allegations Over Unfulfilled Public Promises

The former Congress leader further accused the National Conference government of failing to deliver on promises made to voters during the Assembly election campaign. He claimed that many assurances and guarantees presented before the public remained incomplete, creating disappointment among supporters and residents across the region.

Rasool additionally alleged that the National Conference indirectly helped the Bharatiya Janata Party secure a Rajya Sabha seat instead of backing the Congress candidate. He claimed that the political move weakened Congress interests in Jammu and Kashmir and raised concerns over the alliance’s long-term viability.

Calling for immediate political reassessment, he urged the Congress high command to review the partnership with the NC and decide whether the arrangement still served the party’s broader goals in the Union Territory.

Support Emerges From Within Congress Camp

Rasool’s remarks received backing from Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga, who also expressed dissatisfaction over the party’s political direction before the Assembly elections.

Monga alleged that internal lobbying within the Congress contributed to the leadership change that removed Rasool from the position of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief ahead of the polls. He claimed that certain party leaders influenced the central leadership into approving the change to make the alliance with the National Conference easier.

According to Monga, the Congress had a stronger independent position before entering into the electoral understanding with the NC. He argued that contesting the elections alone could have resulted in a significantly better performance for the party in the Assembly.

Debate Intensifies Over Election Performance

Monga stated that Congress leaders and workers believed the party was capable of winning between 12 and 15 seats independently. However, after the alliance arrangement, Congress secured only six seats, leading many within the organization to question whether the strategy weakened the party’s electoral standing.

The criticism from senior leaders has now triggered wider debate among party workers regarding the future of the Congress-NC relationship in Jammu and Kashmir. Political observers believe the disagreement may place additional pressure on the Congress leadership as it prepares its long-term strategy in the region.

So far, the National Conference has not officially responded to the latest allegations made by Congress leaders. Meanwhile, the growing public criticism from within the Congress indicates that internal tensions over alliance politics are unlikely to settle soon.