What will happen after the JK elections cannot be predicted: Karra on the possibility of a National Conference CM

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday said the assembly elections were not just about forming a government or changing governance but also about “restoring statehood and assembly power” and “our lost dignity”. Karra also did not comment on whether the chief minister would come from the National Conference (NC) if the Congress-NC alliance wins the elections, saying, “We cannot predict what will happen after the elections.”

In an interview with PTI, Karra expressed confidence that the Congress party and North Carolina would form a government together and cross the magic mark of 90 MPs, adding that the PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti would not significantly affect their chances.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chairman also claimed that the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) was a “closed case” and had “no future”.

“I have publicly stated that the DPAP case is closed. Whatever they have done, they have created fragmentation and they have failed. So I don’t think they have a future,” he said.

Asked if it was a foregone conclusion that the prime minister would come from this party, as NC was the strongest partner in the alliance, Karra said: “We have reached an agreement so far regarding the elections. We have a seat allocation which we call a pre-poll alliance, but the result will speak for itself and show what comes after. We cannot predict what will happen after the elections.”

Asked if he would become the chief minister, Karra said, “It is impossible to say now.” The NC and the Congress have agreed on seat-sharing for the 90 parliamentary seats, with the National Conference fielding 51 and the Congress 32. They are engaged in a friendly fight for some seats. On the central government’s statement of significantly strengthening the authority of the Lieutenant Governor in Jammu and Kashmir, Karra claimed that the BJP has realised that it will not form the government but another coalition will do so and therefore it was thought better to limit the power before handing over power to the next government.

“This is a politically motivated attempt,” the JK Congress leader told PTI over phone.

He stressed that while the restoration of statehood was the primary concern, the limitation of government powers “must be reviewed and the Assembly will also decide on this.”

On the most important point of the poll, Karra said that today’s elections are not (only) about forming a government or changing our governance, but that the elections have different contours and parameters.

“The parameters are restoration of statehood, restoration of assembly power, restoration of our lost dignity, restoration of our identity. This is not just a development-based election, developments are also taking place under the state chairmen, during the governor’s tenure. This time it is a totally different kind of election,” he explained.

On the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Karra lashed out at the BJP, claiming that it was “just parroting” that the situation on the ground was normal, but everyone had seen that only the rules of the game had changed from Kashmir division to Jammu division.

“It is a complete failure of the Indian government and local administration. They have always glorified their dual governments and this (the security situation) is a textbook example of the failure of these dual governments,” the Congress leader said.

“In the last few months, everyone has seen how much damage has been done in the Jammu region. It was a peaceful area all along, but due to their utter failure and jingoism, they have exploited the region for their election goals,” he said.

“So I think it’s their moral responsibility to accept their mistakes,” Karra added.

He also criticised the BJP’s promises in its election manifesto, saying they had been “selling” the situation in Kashmir across the country and until a few months ago they had succeeded in doing so, but now the situation has changed.

“These years of wordplay and jingoism are no longer resonating. Whatever they promised and sold, I think the expiration date has passed,” Karra said.

Asked whether the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) could jeopardise the chances of the Congress-North Carolina alliance, Karra said their merger was a continuation of the previous alliance for the general election.

“I think we had a pretty good result in the general election, except for a setback with the defeat of Omar Abdullah and a big setback with the defeat of Mehbooba Mufti. I don’t think there will be any change in that perception that was created in the last election. I think it (our result) will be better than the last one,” he said.

Asked if the PDP could potentially act as a spoilsport, Karra said: “It will be difficult in a multi-party election campaign, but I will not accept that they (the PDP) will completely hamper it.”

Karra is running in Central Shalteng, where elections will be held on September 25.

The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held in three phases. Voting for the first phase will take place on September 18, followed by the second phase on September 25 and the third phase on October 1. The results of the elections will be announced on October 8.