“There are no two opinions about it”: Farooq Abdullah Announces National Conference's Solo Run in the Upcoming Lok Sabha Elections

In a new setback for the INDIA alliance, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah announced on Thursday that his party will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections independently.

"As far as seat sharing is concerned, I want to make it clear National Conference will contest elections on its own strength. There are no two opinions about it. There should be no questions on this anymore," said Farooq Abdullah. The National Conference leader had expressed his apprehensions last month about the lack of agreement on seat-sharing arrangements within the INDIA bloc.

This comes as a major blow to the INDIA alliance. Earlier this month, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared that the AAP would not form a coalition with the Congress in the state. Mann's statement was further cemented by AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal who stated that his party would fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections independently in Punjab. TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also stated that her party will fight solo, shunning the possibility of forging an alliance with Congress.

“Talks are going on. Every party has their own limitations. National Conference and PDP have been a part of the INDIA bloc, and will continue to remain so,” said Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reacting to Farooq Abdullah’s statement.