In a significant political development, the Congress has been sidelined in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir government after four Independent MLAs extended their support to the National Conference (NC), effectively reducing Congress’ influence in the coalition.
The independents—Pyare Lal Sharma (Inderwal), Satish Sharma (Chhamb), Choudhary Mohammed Akram (Surankote), and Dr. Rameshwar Singh (Bani)—have strengthened the NC’s position, propelling the Kashmiri outfit to a majority in the 90-member Assembly.
With the backing of these four independents, the National Conference now has the support of 46 lawmakers, achieving the majority mark. This number excludes the five nominated members to be appointed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The shift in support means that the NC no longer requires the Congress’ six seats to form a government, dealing a blow to the Congress, which has been struggling with internal crises and election losses, including its recent defeat in Haryana.
National Conference in Control; Congress Left Out
The Congress, which had hoped to play a significant role in the coalition, has now been relegated to a non-essential player in the state’s power structure. Despite winning six seats in the Assembly, the party’s influence has diminished as Omar Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, consolidates his power. The NC ended Tuesday’s vote count with 42 seats, while the Congress secured only six.
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Although the Congress could still become relevant if the NC loses even one MLA, for now, Omar Abdullah doesn’t need to rely on Congress support to govern. The BJP, which dominated in the Jammu region, won 29 seats and has since increased its tally to 32 after receiving backing from three other independents. Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once a major player, collapsed to just three seats from its previous 28 in 2014, leaving the party out of any potential ‘kingmaker’ role.
Omar Abdullah Set to Become Chief Minister
In another crucial development, Omar Abdullah was unanimously elected the leader of the NC legislative party, setting the stage for him to become the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
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This comes after his father, Farooq Abdullah, hinted at this transition on Tuesday, saying, “Omar Abdullah banega Chief Minister,” as the party approached victory.
Congress Facing National Backlash
The Congress’ diminished role in Jammu and Kashmir comes on the heels of a broader crisis for the party, which has faced internal leadership squabbles and several electoral defeats in recent years. The recent loss in Haryana has only deepened the crisis, with allies in the INDIA bloc—including Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress—criticizing the Congress for “arrogance” and “overconfidence.”
As the Congress heads into key elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi in the coming months, its ability to influence regional politics remains in question. This setback in Jammu and Kashmir further complicates the party’s already fragile position on the national stage.
