"Revealed intention to play with country's unity, security for power": Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel on Congress-NC alliance

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 24 : Following the announcement of alliance formation between the Congress and the National Conference ahead of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel accused the Congress party of playing "with the unity and security of the country in its greed for power."
In a video message shared on social media platform X on Saturday, Patel said, "The Congress Party, which is out of power, has once again revealed its intention to play with the unity and security of the country in its greed for power."
He further questioned if the Congress party supports the promise made by the NC in their election manifesto, which includes bringing back Articles 370 and 35A.
"By forming an alliance with the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference in J-K Assembly elections, the Congress Party has put its intention in front of the country. The people of the country want to know whether the Congress Party supports the promises made by the National Conference in their manifesto. Does the Congress Party support the promise of a separate flag in Jammu and Kashmir? Does the Congress Party want to push Jammu and Kashmir into the era of terrorism by bringing back Articles 370 and 35A again? They should answer," Patel added.
Speaking on the same matter, Union Minister BL Verma said that such alliances are made "due to political and personal interests" and demanded Rahul Gandhi clarify his opinion about Article 370.
"Whatever alliance has been made or is being made between the INDI alliance is mismatched. Their ideas and policies do not match each other; such agreements are made due to political and personal interests. The atmosphere that the central government has created in Jammu and Kashmir, the work of strengthening the democratic system, people have participated enthusiastically in the Lok Sabha elections... Rahul Gandhi should clarify once what his opinions are about Article 370," Verma said.
The pre-poll alliance was announced soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met NC chief Farooq Abdullah.
After the meeting, Farooq said that the Congress-NC would fight for all 90 seats in the assembly polls.
The formal announcement of the tieup was made by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. "United we stand," JKNC posted on X.
The announcement was made after Farooq Abdullah and his son, Omar met Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
"Congress and we (NC) are together. Tarigami sahab (CPM's M.Y. Tarigami) is also with us. I hope that our people are with us so that we can win and do better for the people. The alliance has been finalised and by this evening the details of seat-sharing will be announced. The Alliance is for 90 seats," Farooq Abdullah said.
The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats--Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seats.
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4.
The Election Commission has issued notification for the first phase of assembly seats for 24 seats. This is the first assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.