'We've not gone to NC seeking alliance'

Cong reacts on Farooq's 'going solo' comment

JAMMU: Reacting sharply to the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah's announcement of contesting the next assembly elections on its own, without any alliance, NC's former coalition partner Congress has questioned the circumstances that led former Chief Minister to announce 'his poll strategy so soon.'
The announcement was made in this regard by Farooq, a day before, asserting that NC was confident of winning a massive mandate on its own. Reacting to the news, president of state unit of Congress, Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that they don't know what forced senior Abdullah to announce such thing so early.
"We (Congress) have not gone to Dr Farooq Abdullah with an application for alliance in the next assembly polls," Mir taunted NC president while talking to The News Now.
"I don't know what prompted him to come out with such statement suddenly," he added.
"But, I want to clear one thing very honestly that Congress will never go with any communal forces even before elections or after it. We can surrender power to maintain this principle," said Mir, adding that BJP can go with PDP or NC will go with BJP after results of next elections comes out, but it is Congress, which basically is secular party and the only political party in Jammu and Kashmir having strong hold in all the three regions of the state.
Reminding Dr Farooq Abdullah of history, the PCC chief said, "In 2008 assembly polls, Congress had gone for post-poll alliance with NC. Again in 2014, both NC and Congress contested assembly elections without any alliance even after completing full six-year tenure in coalition.
"Then in 2017, both NC and Congress contested MP Srinagar seat in coalition that too against the communal forces. It was just for a grand concern," Mir added.
"Now with three years left for next polls, the sudden statement of Dr Farooq makes little sense. Though I am having high regards for Farooq Sahib as a leader, but he always changes his statements on regular intervals," said Mir and also cleared that there is no formal or informal talks between NC-Congress over this issues, but it is too early to speak on this issue.
Congress state president said that as far as Congress party is concerned, it is having 12 MLA and representation in all three regions.
"Congress has come down from 17 to 12 seats in 2014 elections, but NC has come down from 28 to 15, so maybe it is compulsion of NC to announce such things," he said.