The Congress party on Thursday urged its alliance partner, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), to enhance coordination on crucial public issues in the Union Territory, emphasizing that cooperation is essential for effective governance. Senior Congress leader and legislator Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated that mutual understanding among coalition partners is non-negotiable and that the NC must recognize the concerns of its alliance counterpart.

This appeal follows recent criticism by NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who accused Congress of insufficient action on restoring statehood to J&K. In response, Congress reiterated its stance of not joining the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet until statehood is reinstated. Mir stressed that the party's concerns and aspirations must be fully respected for the coalition to remain functional and relevant.

In the 90-member legislative assembly, the NC won 42 seats in the 2024 elections while Congress secured six. Tensions between the allies surfaced previously during last year's Rajya Sabha elections, with J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra acknowledging growing dissatisfaction over governance and administrative matters. The coalition's ability to address internal differences will be critical in the coming months.

The Congress leadership has called for immediate consultations with the NC to formalize mechanisms for joint decision-making on public welfare initiatives. Both parties are expected to hold coordination talks by mid-May to address outstanding issues and assess the future of their alliance.