J&K Congress chief: ‘We are in alliance with NC … natural that we will be part of J&K govt’

In an interview, Karra talks about government formation, what went wrong for the party, and what is next for the NC-Congress alliance.

Excerpts:

What is your assessment of the Jammu and Kashmir election results?

This election was fought with the special purpose of keeping the BJP away from power for certain specific reasons. One, we were divested of certain powers and certain rights that we have to get back. That is the statehood and, along with that, our land rights and our right to jobs. The people of Jammu and Kashmir were fed up with the divisive policies of the BJP and their hate politics in the entire country that affected J&K also.

And also the kind of approach they took regarding running J&K, that helped the people of J&K realise this kind of authoritarian, oppressive rule has to be ended. So that is what we thought and the people of J&K have given a decisive mandate to the alliance to achieve these goals.

Where did the Congress go wrong?

We are going to introspect it on a seat-to-seat basis. Before the results were out, I had been to Jammu and held interactions with our candidates. One common thing that emerged was the administration’s non-cooperation in the last three days of electioneering. Everyone said in the last three days, police checkposts were removed, there were no police nakas. That facilitated the movement of money and liquor. I was told that even ambulances were used. Our party raised this issue with the administration but they didn’t cooperate. That could be one of the reasons.

But can it be simply just that?

That could be one of the reasons. I never said that is the reason. The other organisational reasons, the shortcomings, all that need to be introspected upon.

The Congress campaign in Jammu, it is said, was not at all visible. Even Omar Abdullah made that point.

I can’t comment on someone’s comment. I have to talk to my people and do an introspection. We have to do something like fact-finding on what went wrong, where and when.

Were there problems with ticket distribution?

That can also be introspected. Everything has to be looked into holistically.

Will the Congress join the government?

We are in an alliance and it is natural that we will be part of the government and we have to do our exercise also. That is what we are into (now).

Will the Congress be seeking the Deputy Chief Ministership or key ministries?

That has not yet been discussed. We have to sort it out among ourselves and then talk to the NC. We have to have our in-house discussion first. It is too early to say anything.

But are you certain that the Congress will join the government?

Do you have any doubts? We have fought the elections together in an alliance and it is very natural.

Some Congress leaders, it seems, are not keen. One argument is that the party’s performance was not on expected lines and it is time to strengthen the organisation.

Introspection and strengthening the party are important … strengthening the party is more important. But, I think the Congress will be joining (the government).

What will be the Congress’s suggestions for a common minimum programme?

Before we went into elections and before our manifesto was declared, we had a thorough discussion with NC about our manifesto. So many of the things are quite common and we will see if there could be a CMP, maybe before the oath-taking or after. Because it will be quite an elaborate thing.

The NC said that it would strive for the restoration of Article 370. The Assembly could pass a resolution on it. If the Congress joins the government, what will be its position?

When any party goes into an alliance and goes to people, they go with their agenda. And it is not an amalgamation of the manifestos. It is just an understanding that we have to go together because we have to avoid the fragmentation of votes. The parties that have different agenda, and may have some contentious issues, those things always have to be worked out for the smooth sailing of the government. We have to sit together and see where the contentious issues come in between.

Will the NC be amenable to keeping such issues on the back burner for now?

Well, I say that we have to find our ways and means for smooth sailing, for a stable government. NC leaders are quite mature enough to understand such things.

Restoration of statehood is a common demand.

That is a common demand. We fought the elections on that. Omar saab was on record on Wednesday saying we will launch a struggle for our statehood.

You have been a minister in the past. Will you be joining the government?

That has to be seen. The parameters of joining the government are different and who will join the government is different.