National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has triggered a political controversy with his remarks about Pakistan’s role in raising the Kashmir issue internationally. The BJP criticised the veteran Jammu and Kashmir politician, with some party leaders describing his comments as seditious and demanding action against him.

Abdullah, who is also a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, made the remarks while addressing a party workers’ convention in Baramulla on Saturday. He questioned the Indian government’s intentions towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir and credited Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts with helping bring their concerns to international attention.

What Farooq Abdullah said about Pakistan

During his address, Abdullah said Pakistan continued to raise the Kashmir issue at international forums and suggested that pressure from the international community had influenced the Indian government’s response.

He said the neighbouring country was speaking about the unresolved Kashmir issue at different forums and claimed that this was helping protect the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Abdullah also questioned whether people in the region could expect justice from the government in New Delhi. He urged them to stand up for their rights and warned that failing to do so could threaten their identity.

BJP accuses Abdullah of echoing Pakistan’s narrative

The BJP responded sharply to Abdullah’s comments, with party leaders accusing him of making statements favourable to Pakistan.

BJP national spokesperson RP Singh asked Abdullah to look across the border and consider the condition of Kashmiris on the other side. Singh attributed Jammu and Kashmir’s economic progress and integration with India to the abrogation of Article 370. He also cited tourist arrivals as an indicator of the region’s development.

BJP national council member Yamini Sharma also criticised the National Conference chief. She alleged that his remarks insulted the Indian Constitution and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and accused his party of echoing Pakistan’s position.

BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi went further, describing Abdullah’s comments as seditious. He demanded that the former chief minister apologise and called for a sedition case against those making statements he considered anti-national.

The demand for legal action was made by BJP leaders in response to Abdullah’s remarks. The report does not establish that a case had been registered against him.

Kashmir issue remains at the centre of political differences

The controversy reflects continuing political disagreements over Jammu and Kashmir’s relationship with the Union government, the region’s political identity and Pakistan’s efforts to raise the Kashmir issue internationally.

Article 370, which had granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Centre in August 2019. The former state was subsequently reorganised into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The BJP has defended the decision as a step towards Jammu and Kashmir’s fuller integration with India.

Abdullah’s remarks have drawn criticism from BJP leaders, who have accused him of supporting Pakistan’s narrative. The dispute has once again brought competing political positions on Kashmir into focus.

The Congress has formally initiated seat-sharing discussions with the Samajwadi Party (SP) for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, submitting an initial list of constituencies it wants to contest as part of an alliance.

Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam said the party had shared a list covering between 175 and 200 seats with Samajwadi Party leaders a few days ago. Detailed discussions on the distribution of constituencies are expected to follow.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 seats. While the Congress is seeking a substantial share in the proposed alliance, the Samajwadi Party has emphasised that candidates’ electoral winnability should determine seat allocation.

A senior SP leader said the party’s position was guided by the principle that winnability should remain the primary criterion. The leader also cautioned against treating initial demands as a basis for a final agreement.

Why the Congress wants a larger share of seats

The Congress believes its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has strengthened its position in Uttar Pradesh. The party won six parliamentary seats in the state while its ally, the Samajwadi Party, secured 37. The BJP won 33 seats.

Congress leaders have argued that the results demonstrated the electoral potential of the alliance and the importance of allowing both parties a meaningful role in the upcoming Assembly contest.

However, the party’s recent Assembly election record presents a different picture. The Congress won only two seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, down from seven in 2017, when it contested in alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

The difference between its performance in the parliamentary and Assembly elections is likely to be an important consideration in the seat-sharing negotiations.

Akhilesh Yadav stresses opposition unity

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has maintained that the Congress, the SP and the INDIA bloc need to work together to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Friday, Yadav said the alliance would move forward effectively towards that objective. His remarks indicated that the two parties remain committed to cooperation even as discussions over the distribution of seats continue.

The challenge for both sides will be to reach an arrangement that accommodates their respective political ambitions while taking the electoral strength of individual candidates and constituencies into account.

Congress leadership changes amid alliance talks

The Congress has also reorganised its Uttar Pradesh leadership ahead of the Assembly elections. Aradhana Misra was appointed as the state unit chief, replacing Ajay Rai.

The leadership change is believed by some Congress leaders to be part of efforts to facilitate a workable arrangement with the Samajwadi Party. Misra is considered to have good relations with the SP leadership.

Congress leaders have expressed hope that negotiations will produce a reasonable seat-sharing agreement and confirmed that the two parties intend to contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections together.

The final seat allocation, however, remains undecided. Both parties will need to reconcile the Congress’ demand for a larger share with the SP’s emphasis on winnability before the alliance can settle on a constituency-wise arrangement.

Om Prakash Mathur, a veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Governor of Sikkim, was sworn in as the Governor of Keralam on Friday, October 23. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, where Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen administered the oath of office.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan and members of his Cabinet attended the ceremony, along with leaders from various political parties. However, leaders of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the state’s key opposition alliance, did not participate in the event, according to the report.

Before the oath was administered, the appointment order issued by President Droupadi Murmu was read out. Mathur took the oath in Hindi and formally assumed office. The ceremony concluded with the national song Vande Mataram and the national anthem being played by the band.

Who is Om Prakash Mathur?

Mathur hails from Bedal village in the Bali tehsil of Rajasthan’s Pali district. He graduated from Rajasthan University and entered public life as a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

During his political career, Mathur served as the BJP’s national general secretary in charge of Gujarat and represented Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha. He was appointed Governor of Sikkim in July 2024 before being named to the Keralam post in the latest gubernatorial reshuffle.

Mathur succeeds Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar

Mathur replaces Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who has been appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu. President Droupadi Murmu announced the gubernatorial appointments on October 12, with the changes taking effect as the appointees assumed charge of their respective offices.

The change comes against the backdrop of disputes between successive Kerala governments and governors over university administration. The governor also serves as the chancellor of the state’s universities, with responsibilities related to their administration.

Previous disagreements over the appointment of vice-chancellors and other senior university officials had led to legal proceedings. Both the LDF and the United Democratic Front (UDF) have raised objections to appointments they alleged involved individuals associated with the BJP and RSS.