Sinking its differences with the ruling National Conference (NC) hours before polling for the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress party on Thursday evening issued a whip directing its six MLAs to vote for the NC candidates on Friday.
Announcing the decision in Srinagar, the J&K UT Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said, “We have pushed all our differences with the NC to the backburner to prove our commitment to our ethos.”
He read out a statement that the Congress, after two rounds of deliberations since yesterday and following detailed consultations with the central leadership, who had sought certain clarifications and inputs from them, has collectively arrived at the decision to support NC. “Taking into account our sensitivities as a suffering state and our identity as a tested voice for a diverse and secular India, the Congress party has decided to keep all differences with the National Conference on the backburner—solely to reaffirm our commitment to our own ethos and principles,” the statement added.
“During the 2024 elections, we chose unity over division, ignoring all dissenting voices, to defeat the BJP and free the people of Jammu 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,” Karra added.