Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Oct 23: The Congress on Thursday declared full support for the National Conference in Friday’s Rajya Sabha elections, describing the decision as a “principled step” to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from gaining ground.
Addressing a press briefing, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President, Tariq Hameed Karra said that the decision was taken after detailed consultations with the party’s central leadership and internal deliberations over the past two days.
“We have taken this stand after considering the sensitivities of our region and our identity as a secular, democratic force,” Karra said. “We have chosen to set aside our differences with the National Conference to uphold the larger values we represent.”
Karra said that while the Congress had earlier expressed displeasure over NC’s approach to seat-sharing within the alliance, the party ultimately decided to “rise above political friction” and prioritise the broader national challenge of countering the BJP.
“Rajya Sabha elections this time have posed a moral test. We want the NC to stay united against any external pressure, and we extend our support for that cause,” he said.
Stating that the Congress’s fight was not limited to Jammu and Kashmir, Karra said the decision reflected the party’s national commitment to defending India’s secular ethos. “Our strength may not be in numbers, but it lies in standing for what is right. We are guided by moral uprightness, not expediency,” he said.
Karra said that all six Congress legislators participated in the discussions and unanimously backed the move. “A formal whip has been issued to our MLAs to vote for the National Conference candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections,” he said.
He also praised NC candidate Shammi Oberoi for his positive role in maintaining dialogue between the two parties. “Shammi Oberoi’s approach helped turn negotiations into mutual understanding and differences into dialogue,” Karra said, adding that two formal communications addressed to NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah would soon be made public.
Karra said the decision should be viewed as part of a larger political effort to safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s plural character. “We ignored the past treatment from our ally for the greater cause of unity and the collective good of the people,” he said.
With Congress’s six votes secured, the NC-led alliance now appears poised to comfortably win three of the four Upper House seats when the voting takes place on Friday. (KNO)
