KASHMIR : In the aftermath of the National Conference-Congress coalition’s victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, addressed concerns about Jammu’s representation in the upcoming government. The NC secured 42 seats, with Congress winning six, and CPI(M) legislator MY Tarigami providing additional support. Despite the NC-Congress alliance’s dominance in Kashmir, Abdullah reassured voters in Jammu that they would not be sidelined.

Ensuring Jammu’s Representation:

Dr. Farooq Abdullah emphasized that while the Jammu electorate had largely favored the BJP, with the party winning 29 out of 43 seats in the region, the NC-Congress alliance would not neglect Jammu’s interests. He stated, “Though Jammu didn’t hold our hand, we will hold Jammu’s hand,” underscoring his commitment to securing fair representation for the region.

Of the seven NC winners from Jammu, two are Hindus — Arjun Singh Raju (Ramban) and Surinder Choudhary (Nowshera) — reflecting the party’s effort to maintain diversity in its representation. Congress also won a seat in Rajouri through Iftikar Ahmed.

A Promise of Fair Treatment:

Abdullah made it clear that the coalition government would work to boost the NC’s vote share in Jammu over the next five years by focusing on the region’s needs and concerns. “We will work on this and increase our share in Jammu, and we will do it with our work,” Abdullah said, adding that the people of Jammu would receive their due share and be “very happy” with the results.

Addressing Cabinet Representation:

While Abdullah avoided directly addressing speculation about cabinet appointments, he suggested that decisions regarding ministerial representation from Jammu would be revealed once the government is formed. The NC leader remained non-committal on rumors of Surinder Choudhary potentially being made Deputy Chief Minister, stressing that it was too early for such discussions.

Upcoming Developments:

Abdullah also spoke about the alliance’s plans to soon meet with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to stake their claim to form the government. Meetings within the NC and Congress, including consultations with the INDIA bloc leadership, are expected to finalize the coalition’s strategies and arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony.

Restoring Jammu’s Confidence:

Arjun Singh Raju, NC’s MLA from Ramban, echoed Abdullah’s sentiments, affirming that the party has always prioritized unity and fair treatment across Jammu and Kashmir. He criticized the previous administrations, particularly the LG’s rule and the PDP-BJP coalition, for neglecting Jammu’s interests. Raju assured that under the new government, Jammu would not face any discrimination.

As the NC-Congress alliance moves towards formalizing its government, all eyes are on the coalition’s approach to addressing Jammu’s concerns and ensuring balanced governance for both regions of the Union Territory.