NC yet to decide on pre-poll alliance with Cong: Omar

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said National Conference is yet to take a decision on entering into a pre-poll alliance with its coalition partner in the state, Congress.

'National Conference has not taken a decision yet (on a pre-poll alliance with Congress),' Omar told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

The NC leader was responding to questions about reports that Congress, at a party meeting in Jammu, has decided to go it alone in the next assembly elections.

Asked if there were any differences between National Conference and Congress, Omar said, 'There is no tension. There is still some time to go for the (Assembly) elections.'

He said National Conference has given the responsibility to party patron Farooq Abdullah to take a decision on pre-poll alliance.

'Whatever decision he (Farooq) takes will be followed (by party leaders),' Omar said.

National Conference and Congress entered into a post-poll alliance following a hung assembly in 2008 assembly elections.

Although the coalition has functioned smoothly for most part of the past four and half years, there have been occasions when leaders from the two parties have traded charges.

The two parties contested the recent elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil against each other with Congress getting together enough members to take control of the 26-member council.