NDA, INDIA allies battle out in many J&K seats, face fewer ‘friendly fights’ in Haryana

The NDA allies RLD and RPI(A) have thrown their hats in the ring in the Sonawari Assembly seat, where the BJP is in the contest against the NC. “Party workers were enthusiastic about contesting in the eight seats and hence we have fielded them. There is a lot of excitement among political parties as elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir after a long time,” RLD general secretary Trilok Tyagi said.

The INDIA bloc partners Congress and the National Conference (NC) are contesting in an alliance, fighting from 32 and 56 seats respectively while having “friendly fights” in some seats. They have left one seat each for their smaller allies CPM (1) and J&K Panthers Party (1).

However, the Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an INDIA bloc constituent, is fighting solo in 62 seats, taking on both the NC and the Congress in many seats across J&K.

The Congress-NC alliance is also facing a challenge from four other INDIA partners. While the Samajwadi Party (SP) is in the fray in 20 seats, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are contesting 10 and seven seats respectively where the Congress has fielded its nominees. The All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) too has put up candidates in four such constituencies.

Interestingly, several top leaders of the regional parties have stayed away from campaigning in the seats where the Congress and the BJP are in the fray.

“The Congress and NC would not have liked (SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav campaigning here. It would also not serve our interests during seat-sharing for the upcoming bypolls in Uttar Pradesh,” an SP leader said even as party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary insisted that the party was contesting the J&K polls in a bid to expand its footprint.

The “Friendly fight” seats between the Congress and the NC include Baramulla and Nagrota. While the BJP has not fielded a candidate in Baramulla, the SP, JD(U) and RLD have nominated candidates here. The SP has also thrown its hat in the Nagrota seat.

Some seats in J&K are witnessing triangular fights between allies too. While the Congress, AAP and Shiv Sena (UBT) are in the fray in Banihal and Doda, the SP will take on the Congress and Sena (UBT) in Udhampur West and Bishnah. The NC, Congress and Sena (UBT) will fight it out in Bhadarwah.

The BJP and JD(U) will lock horns in RS Pura and Anantnag West, while the RLD and NCP will fight it out in the Hazratbal seat.

In contrast, in the Haryana polls the allies have shown little interest in going against each other. Both the incumbent BJP and the principal Opposition Congress are contesting 89 of the 90 seats in Haryana. While the Congress has given one seat – Bhiwani – to the CPI(M), the BJP has not announced any pre-poll alliance.

After its seat-sharing negotiations with the Congress fell apart, the AAP has fielded candidates in 89 seats in Haryana.

However, the SP has not put up its nominees in the state. Rajendra Chaudhary dismissed speculation about Akhilesh’s absence from campaigning in the Yadav-dominated constituencies of Haryana. He, however, said that the party’s local unit is campaigning for the Congress candidates in various constituencies.