In a major boost for the National Conference, the Congress and PDP on Thursday announced support for the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled to be held on Friday.
After threadbare discussion, J&K Congress Chief Tariq Hameed Karra in the evening announced the party's support to NC candidates in RS elections.
“After two rounds of deliberations since yesterday and following detailed consultations with the central leadership, who had sought certain clarifications and inputs from them, the party has collectively arrived at a decision. Taking into account our sensitivities as a suffering state and our identity as a tested voice for a diverse and secular India, the Congress has decided to keep all differences with the National Conference on the back burner—solely to reaffirm our commitment to our own ethos and principles,” Karra said.
“During the 2024 elections, we chose unity over division, ignoring all dissenting voices, to defeat the BJP and free the people of Jammu and Kashmir from a climate of fear and suppression. In keeping with our political culture and moral uprightness, we refuse to act out of expediency,” he said.
“The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections have posed a new challenge. We sincerely hope that the National Conference keeps its flock together against all temptations and manipulations—and in that endeavor, we extend our full support. All our 6 congress MLAs will support NC,” J&K Congress chief said.
The polling for four vacant RS seats would be held on Friday.
Meanwhile, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said her party will extend support to the National Conference (NC) only for the third seat in Rajya Sabha elections.
She emphasised that this decision is taken in the larger interest of keeping the BJP at bay while ensuring that pro-people legislation is passed.
“PDP’s support is conditional on the NC fulfilling its commitment to pass two critical private member bills: the land regularisation bill and the daily wagers regularisation bill,” she said.
“We will vote for the third seat only. We will not vote for the fourth seat, because if BJP wins there, PDP will be wrongly blamed for the loss,” she said.
Mehbooba highlighted that the land regularisation bill seeks to grant ownership rights to poor families who have been living on government land under the constant threat of demolition since 2019.
“Bulldozers have been used across the country and here as well. Poor people who built their houses on government land have lived with a sword hanging over their heads. We want this sword removed so they can live with dignity,” she said.
The bill also aims to protect long-standing hotel owners whose leases are at risk of termination, preventing these properties from being auctioned to outsiders.
On the issue of daily wagers, Mehbooba stressed the need to regularise thousands of workers in departments including PHE, R&B, Irrigation, Health, and Education, many of whom have served for decades on minimal or no pay.
“This bill is about justice for them. Many daily wagers have worked for 20–25 years on meagre pay, and some haven’t even received salaries. It is time to secure their rights,” she said.
Mehbooba reiterated that the PDP’s support to the NC is strictly conditional on fulfilling these commitments.