Hold state, Lok Sabha polls together: NC, Congress

SRINAGAR: The National Conference and the Congress have said that assembly election should be held in Jammu & Kashmir along with the upcoming Lok Sabha polls while the PDP and BJP have adopted a more cautious approach despite exuding confidence that they are prepared to face the electorate.

The Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP government fell in June last year after the BJP pulled out of the ruling coalition, plunging the state into governor’s rule for six months, followed by the ongoing President’s rule.

Senior National Conference leader Ali Muhammad Sagar said given the brittle security scenario in the state, it would be better to conduct both the elections together.


“They themselves promised that they would conduct elections within six months of President’s rule,” he told ET. “Besides, the Governor said that not a bird was hurt during the panchayat and local bodies’ elections. It is for the administration and Election Commission to evaluate the situation.

We are ready for elections and aiming for absolute majority.” Former minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Muhammad Saroori said the party had made its stance on the issue amply clear and also written to the Election Commission to hold the state polls along with the general election.

“BJP is scared of election. They again want to wait till the results of parliamentary election, and then try to manipulate and win the state election on crutches,” he said.