Ali Asad
Srinagar, Jul 8: The Congress party, which has been on the political margins in Jammu and Kashmir, is gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections with a renewed strategy.
After facing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections for the third consecutive time, the party is grappling with multiple challenges, especially as its influence continues to wane in the region.
In Kashmir, the Congress base has been steadily weakening as per the party sources. They said that this is happening to the point where the party appears hesitant to contest elections. The situation is not much better in the Jammu division. Despite losing two seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the party finds some solace in the fact that its vote percentage has increased by about ten percent compared to the 2019 elections.
With the possibility of assembly elections in September, political activities have intensified. The BJP has already held several meetings, including a visit from National President JP Nadda.
In contrast, about twenty state leaders from Congress recently met with the party high command to discuss election preparations. The state leaders were urged to remain disciplined and united in their efforts.
State head of Congress party Vikar Rasool chaired a meeting to review the Lok Sabha election results and to strategize for the upcoming assembly elections. It was highlighted that efforts should focus on constituencies where Congress narrowly lost.
However, the Congress’s roadmap for the assembly elections is not fully developed. The party is facing a shortage of cadres and lacks a strong grassroots presence. Since the Lok Sabha elections, there have been no significant programs or rallies, and meetings to boost party activities are scarce. Some leaders are working within their potential assembly constituencies, but overall party momentum is lacking.
In the 2014 assembly elections, Congress secured 12 seats: five in the Jammu division, four in Kashmir, and three in Ladakh. With Ladakh now a separate union territory and delimitation increasing the total assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir to 90, the Congress’s future strategy remains uncertain. The party has yet to decide whether to form alliances before or after the elections, though an alliance with the National Conference seems likely.
Congress leaders are, meanwhile, optimistic about forming a government with the National Conference. Party spokesperson and senior deputy chief Ravindra Sharma stated that the alliance could happen at any time before or after the elections. “We are fully prepared for the elections,” Sharma said, expressing confidence that Congress’s performance would improve and that they would form the government in Jammu and Kashmir alongside the National Conference.
