Srinagar, March 20: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2019, the Congress on Wednesday sealed an alliance with Jammu and Kashmir based National Conference (NC). NC President Farooq Abdullah said, “Jammu and Udhampur will be contested by Congress, I will contest from Srinagar, and there will be a friendly contest between NC and Congress in Anantnag and Baramulla. We are also discussing the Ladakh seat.”  Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Schedule: Voting In 7 Phases From April 11 to May 19, Counting And Results On May 23; Check All Dates For General Elections.

Farooq Abdullah's statement:

Meanwhile, speaking to media senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Friendly contest means that there will be no cut-throat contest between us on these two seats (Anantnag and Baramulla). If either Congress or NC wins, it's a win-win situation for both of us.” The NC on Monday decided to field Abdullah from the Srinagar-Budgam constituency and senior leader and former Speaker of the state assembly Muhammad Akbar Lone from the Baramulla-Kupwara Lok Sabha constituency.

Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement:

On Sunday, former chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah hinted that his party was open to a pre-poll alliance with the Congress if the latter agreed to NC’s seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Omar said, "We have received an offer from the Congress, but we are very clear about taking forward any alliance plan only if our candidates are to contest all the Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir."

The state will be going for elections in five phases. The first phase will be held on April 11, second on April 18, third on April 23 and fourth on April 29 and fifth on May 6. The results of Lok Sabha elections 2019 will be declared on May 23.

In the first phase on April 11, voting will be held in Baramulla and Jammu constituencies, while Srinagar and Udhampur constituencies will go to vote in the second phase on April 18. Voting in Anantnag will be held on April 23 and 29 and May 6, while Ladakh will also go to polls on May 6.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 20, 2019 03:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).