Talks within INDIA bloc only on 3 LS seats held by BJP in J&K, Ladakh: Omar

By statetimes_editor Last updated Feb 8, 2024

STATE TIMES NEWS

Jammu: There will be talks within the Congress-led INDIA bloc only on three parliamentary seats which were won by the BJP in the last elections from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday.
“There has been no talk on seat-sharing (within the INDIA alliance) so far. Congress is ready for the talks and they want us to talk to them. In the coming days, there will be a discussion, especially about the three seats (Jammu, Udhampur and Ladakh) which are with the BJP,” Omar told reporters here.
Besides the Congress and the National Conference (NC) which had won all the three parliamentary seats from Kashmir Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag in the 2019 elections, Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also a part of the INDIA bloc from Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar said NC has also fought elections from Jammu, Udhampur and Ladakh constituencies in the past.

“We have won Jammu seat once and Ladakh more than once. We will sit and discuss which formula we should adopt so that we are able to get back the seats which are with BJP at present,” he said.
Responding to a clarification about his statement, he said, “The seats (won by NC in 2019) are INDIA alliance seats. What do I have to talk about with the INDIA alliance on these seats? The fight is not within the INDIA alliance. The fight is to take those seats back which are with the BJP. Since three seats are with the INDIA alliance, I do not need to discuss those with them.
“Why are you worried about the larger interest? Are you talking over such seats in any other state which are already with the INDIA alliance? The INDIA alliance has three seats, leave them. We will talk on the three seats which are with the BJP,” he said. Asked about the BJP’s target of 370 plus seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said it is just a number. But one wonders why they have not enhanced the target to 500 seats after their 10-year rule, he added. “Let us see where they are standing.” he said.