Mon Oct 07 00:10:00 UTC 2024: ## NC Open to Post-Poll Alliance with PDP to Keep BJP Out of Power in J&K

**Srinagar, India:** Amidst a projected hung assembly in the Jammu and Kashmir elections, the National Conference (NC) has indicated an openness to a post-poll alliance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from forming the government.

This announcement came from NC leader and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who dismissed any concerns about the potential alliance, stating, “How does it matter? If we all work for the same thing… for improvement in the condition of the people of the state.”

While acknowledging a potential rivalry during elections, Mr. Abdullah clarified he has no objections to a post-poll alliance and believes the Congress would also be amenable to the arrangement. However, he categorically ruled out any possibility of him becoming Chief Minister, stating, “I have done my job. My problem will be – how can we make a strong government.”

The NC and Congress are currently allied under the INDIA bloc, while the PDP was invited to join but declined due to a disagreement over seat-sharing. However, with exit polls suggesting a hung assembly, the PDP could hold the key to forming a government, potentially siding with either the NC-Congress alliance or the BJP.

Zuhaib Yusuf Mir, a PDP candidate, echoed Mr. Abdullah’s sentiment, stating the party is open to joining forces with the NC and Congress to prevent the BJP from gaining power. “PDP will have an important role in forming any secular government,” he said, “We have said we are ready to take any step to save the identity of Kashmir but, for this, it is important we form a government against BJP and not with them.”

Despite these pronouncements, some within both the PDP and NC camps have expressed reservations about the alliance, with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija, asserting that any discussions about alliances before the results are announced are premature. Similarly, Omar Abdullah, NC leader and son of Farooq Abdullah, called for a pause on speculation until the election results are declared.

With the official results set to be announced tomorrow, the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir remains fluid, with the possibility of a post-poll alliance playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the state.

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