NCP to go solo in J&K election

Mumbai: Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) said on Friday that the party will contest the upcoming Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir independently without any pre- and post-alliance with any political party. NCP is expected to contest about 12 seats there. NCP’s move is crucial as it wants to increase its presence across the country, especially after Ajit Pawar deserted Sharad Pawar in July 2023 and thereafter became the party’s National President, with the Election Commission granting the party name and symbol to him.

NCP is currently sharing power with the BJP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Apart from this, NCP has a presence in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala and Jharkhand with the elected representatives.

“NCP will go solo in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election without any pre- or post-alliance with any political party,” said the party secretary in-charge Brijmohan Shrivastav, who is currently in Srinagar to plan the party’s poll campaign and shortlist the aspirants for the party nomination.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, the common voters strongly feel that the regional parties have exploited them for the last 70 years by giving various assurances and selling dreams,” Shrivastav added.