Congress downplays reports on possible split with NC

Congress today downplayed reports of a possible split in its alliance with National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir even as NC President Farooq Abdullah said that his son and state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would take the final decision on the ties between the two parties.

"The alliance stands as of today" and it would not be proper to pre-judge the issue, Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters in the backdrop of media speculation on the ruling alliance split over the issue of creation of new administrative units in the state which the Congress is stonewalling.

Abdullah, a Union Minister, told journalists that Omar, who is said to be thinking of resigning over the issue, would take the final call on the alliance.

But, he said, there is a need to resolve the matter amicably because creation of administrative units is for the good of the people and by this way, the work done by the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of creating eight districts will be completed.

"This is not going to benefit one party but credit will go to both the parties," Abdullah said.

To a question on whether the two parties would be fighting elections together, he said "no final decision has been taken on this".

Asked whether there was a growing mistrust between NC and Congress, Abdullah shot back, "there are some people with vested interests who are trying to create mistrust between the coalition partners."

Congress leaders from the state have been holding meetings with party high command to work out a solution on the issue.

State's deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand had said after a meeting last night that the Mushtaq Ganaie Committee had "recommended 700 new administrative units but the figure may go up to 2000 or more."

He is the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting set up by Omar to go into the recommendation of Ganaie Committee which had called for setting up new administrative units in the state.