Although they are at political loggerheads in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, both the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to attend the meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on June 8 in New Delhi.
National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has already announced that his party will attend the INDIA bloc meeting, while PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has also confirmed her participation in the gathering of opposition parties in New Delhi.
Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday made it clear that his party remains an integral part of the INDIA Alliance and will participate in the meeting scheduled for June 8.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah dismissed speculation about the National Conference’s absence from the opposition bloc’s deliberations and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the alliance.
Asked whether he would personally attend the meeting, Abdullah said, “One of us will go and participate. We are part of the INDIA Alliance.”
While the veteran leader did not specify who would represent the National Conference at the meeting, his remarks effectively put to rest rumours about the party distancing itself from the opposition coalition or skipping the upcoming gathering.
The statement assumes significance against the backdrop of recent political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, where a section of Congress leaders has intensified criticism of the ruling National Conference despite both parties being alliance partners.
A section of J&K Congress leaders has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the alliance and has reportedly urged the party high command to reconsider its relationship with the National Conference.
The INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties formed in 2024 to take on the BJP-led NDA, has been holding periodic meetings to discuss political strategy and key national issues.
The June 8 meeting is expected to bring together leaders of various constituent parties to deliberate on the prevailing political situation and the opposition’s future course of action.
Congress dumped PDP, preferred NC in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections
Although the PDP leadership has supported efforts to unite non-BJP parties, Congress sidelined the PDP during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the Lok Sabha elections, Congress supported the National Conference in the Anantnag-Rajouri, Srinagar, and Baramulla parliamentary constituencies, even though the PDP had also fielded candidates in all three seats.
Interestingly, Congress backed National Conference candidate Mian Altaf in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, where PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was also in the fray.
In the 2024 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference and Congress entered into a pre-poll alliance, with the grand old party opting for an alliance with the NC over the PDP.
23 political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA janbandhan meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi on Monday June 8, 2026, at 12 noon. There are some parties who have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons – even though…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 7, 2026
23 political parties to attend INDIA bloc meeting
Twenty-three political parties have confirmed their participation in the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled to be held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Monday.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that some parties had expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons.
In a post on X, he said, “Twenty-three political parties have confirmed participation in the INDIA Janbandhan meeting at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, on Monday, June 8, 2026, at 12 noon.”
“There are some parties that have expressed their inability to attend this particular meeting for their own reasons, even though they have conveyed their strong opposition to the Modi government’s policies and actions, which are snatching away the right to vote from millions of Indians, assaulting the Constitution on a daily basis, targeting opposition leaders through investigative agencies, seriously damaging the livelihoods of crores of Indians, breaking household budgets through relentless price rise, betraying the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth, dampening the investment climate, and compromising the national interest through its foreign policy,” said Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh.
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