Congress meeting authorises party leadership to choose CLP leader in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India] October 11 (ANI): The Congress on Friday formally extended its backing to the National Conference for forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir by giving a letter of support.

Congress held meeting of its legislature party here on Friday and authorised the party’s central leadership to elect CLP leader.

National Conference-Congress alliance has come to power in Jammu and Kashmir in the assembly polls. The alliance won 48 seats with NC carrying the alliance to power on its shoulders as Congress could win only six seats. Ninety assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly went to the polls in three-phased election.

“Today in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, we unanimously passed a resolution and authorised the party’s central leadership to choose our CLP leader. We have extended our support to the National Conference,” Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said.

He said the party has no demands and will sit with National Conference to discuss the model of governance.

“We have no demands. We are supporting the National Conference for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We will sit with them formally and at that time we will discuss what the model of governance will be like. The spirit of this alliance is far beyond the game of numbers and ministerial posts,” he said.

“The spirit of this alliance is much higher than the number game. Our fight is with the BJP is varied and it cannot be brought down to such things,” he added.

Answering a query, he said the choice made by National Conference on its leader of legislature party is totally acceptable to the party.

The letter of support by Congress will pave the way for National Conference staking claim to form government in Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of state into two union territories.

Omar Abdullah, who has been elected as Leader of National Conference, said that whenever a government is formed in Jammu and Kashmir, it should pass a resolution and begin talks with the union government to restore Jammu and Kashmir’statehood.

He further emphasized that they would make every effort to work harmoniously with the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for the benefit of the people.