Srinagar: The Congress is unlikely to join Omar Abdullah's government in Jammu and Kashmir despite the latest offer from the ruling National Conference (NC), with differences between the two alliance partners continuing to cast a shadow over the functioning of the Union Territory government.
The Congress, which is a junior partner of the National Conference, has so far maintained its position has not changed. The party's reluctance is rooted in anger at what it has said is a betrayal by the NC in Rajya Sabha elections last year.
The issue has become even more significant ahead of a cabinet expansion expected to take place in Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah is now running the government with five ministers, four from the National Conference and one independent, although the council of ministers can have as many as nine ministers according to the current law.
"The National Conference has made an offer asking the Congress party to join the government. Our stand remains unchanged," Ghulam Ahmad Mir, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader for Jammu and Kashmir, said.
NC-Congress Rift Over Rajya Sabha Polls.
The relationship between the two parties deteriorated further after the Rajya Sabha elections for Jammu and Kashmir's four seats. The National Conference had announced three candidates and offered the Congress the fourth seat, which the Congress considered unwinnable.
Congress leaders said they had been assured a "safe seat" as part of the alliance agreement. As a result, they did not take part in the election. The National Conference won three seats and BJP candidate Sat Sharma won the fourth.
The episode rattled the Congress leadership in Jammu and Kashmir and some party leaders told the high command to reconsider its alliance with the National Conference. The two parties remain in the Assembly but the dispute has made their relationship more uncomfortable.
The renewed refusal to enter the government suggests that the differences have not been resolved. The Congress also seems to have no reason to change its position that it took earlier.
Congress Holds Key Numbers
The Congress and National Conference together have a narrow majority in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. The National Conference has 41 MLAs and the Congress has six. Together they constitute 47 seats, one more than the majority of 46.
The BJP has 29 MLAs and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) four. The National Conference has the support of some smaller parties and independent legislators. Omar Abdullah also has more support in the Assembly.
Though Congress ministers have enough numbers to form the government, the absence of Congress ministers is politically significant. Its presence in the council of ministers means the alliance continues to function but without formal power-sharing at the cabinet level.
Differences Started Shortly After 2024 Election
The tension between the two parties is not new. Tensions were apparent in 2024 Assembly election when the Congress wanted two seats in the Council of Ministers. The National Conference, however, offered the party one seat.
The Congress ultimately decided not to join Omar Abdullah's government in 2024. At that time, the party said it would wait for the restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir before becoming part of the government.
The new offer from the National Conference has so far failed to change the Congress's position. The State Congress leaders have said that the party is sticking to its earlier decision and the NC is now running the government with a smaller-than-permitted council.
In the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the council of ministers, including the Chief Minister, cannot exceed 10 per cent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. With 90 members in the Assembly, the council can therefore have 10 members, including the Chief Minister, and up to 9 ministers besides Omar Abdullah.
Omar Abdullah Government Faces Political Balancing Act
Omar Abdullah is now faced with a political balancing act. But despite the fact that the National Conference has an obvious advantage in terms of Assembly strength, Congress support is of utmost importance since the two parties have the numbers to give the National Conference a comfortable majority.
The absence of Congress from the government also leaves questions about the future of the alliance. Both the parties share a common political interest in keeping order, but the still unresolved issues related to representation and the Rajya Sabha episode have stymied the alliance and made it hard to develop into a harmonious power-sharing system.
Jammu and Kashmir's political structure adds another layer to the situation. The elected government was formed in October 2024 after six years of direct central rule in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent reorganisation of the erstwhile state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
While Jammu and Kashmir has an elected Legislative Assembly, the Lieutenant Governor appointed by the Centre still exercises significant powers over several areas of administration.
For now, the Congress remains reluctant to change its position despite the National Conference's invitation. Unless the alliance partners can resolve their differences, Omar Abdullah's government will continue to function with a reduced number of ministers while the Congress remains outside the government but retains its importance to the ruling bloc in the Assembly.
