Keeping the options of post-poll alliance open after Assembly elections in the State, senior Congress leader and former union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Saturday ruled out pre-poll alliance with any political party in Jammu and Kashmir.“Since NC and PDP have already ruled out any pre poll alliance in the assembly elections, Congress will also go on its own in the polls,” Azad told media after addressing the first public rally, here after his defeat in parliamentary polls.Azad was accompanied by Congress Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool, MLC Mohammad Amin Bhat and Pradesh Congress Secretary Salman Nizami.
Although the Congress Working Committee member remained tight lipped about post poll alliance with any particular party he, however, said no political party will get majority to form the government on its own.“My political experience suggests me that no political party will get majority in Assembly elections. We will fight elections independently and accordingly decide for the post poll alliance,” Azad said.Keeping options open for alliance with PDP and NC, he said the Congress enjoyed comfortable coalition with both the parties.He, however, said it is too early to decide about the post poll alliance.
“I am not the person, who will talk hatred against any party after completing tenure of coalition with it,” he said.Without naming any political party, Azad said Congress can consider the post poll alliance if it falls short of majority. “The party will make concerted effort to ensure full support for formation of government in State”.
Earlier, addressing a gathering of people in Ramban, he attributed his party’s loss in Lok Sabha elections to polarization of vote.Lashing out on parties for polarizing voters on religious grounds, Azad said, “The vote must be given on basis of policy and manifesto of the party. People should not be polarized on religious lines because it will bring destruction, poverty and violence”.Terming his party’s loss in Lok Sabha polls in country, especially in J&K, ‘unfortunate’, he said the massive developmental projects like Railway line, National Highways, medical colleges set up by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in last ten years were ignored by people.He said the double shift work culture which he started during his tenure as Chief Minister of the State should have been continued to speed up the developmental works for immediate benefits to the people.
Azad said Congress always gave special treatment to the State to end alienation among the people.Claiming credit for recent populist decisions including increase in retirement age of employees, he said, “Had I not lost the government in 2008, the decision to hike retirement age would have been taken in the first week of June in 2008 since the file was under active consideration. Unfortunately, I lost the government before taking decision on increasing the retirement age.”He said he directed his cabinet ministers in Omar Abdullah government two weeks ago to convince Chief Minster to consider the long pending demand of employees.