In J&K Pre-Poll Twist, Jamaat-Backed Leaders and Awami Agree On Alliance

In areas where both AIP and JeI have fielded candidates, the alliance has agreed to a "friendly contest"

In a new twist to pre-assembly election politics in Jammu and Kashmir, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) and former members of the banned Jama'at-e-Islami (JeI) have come together in a strategic alliance and have decided to support each other's candidates.

"The move was made by Engineer Rashid's party and Jamaat agreed to it as in the end it's a fight for a bigger cause and not for the chair," a senior officer told NDTV.

According to him, both parties knew that if they contested alone, then they would be dividing their own votes. "But now by fighting together they would be consolidating votes, especially in the south and also in north Kashmir," another officer said.