Srinagar: With the first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir pointing to gains by the BJP in Jammu-Poonch constituency, the nervousness within the National Conference (NC) over the mood of electorate is no longer a party secret.

The party, in an attempt to avoid further damage, has blamed its pre-election alliance with the Congress for shrinking support.

NC Additional general secretary Dr. Shaikh Mustafa Kamal, younger brother of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, on Saturday said the Congress could have easily forged an alliance with People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but it opted for the NC because the latter had ‘ditched’ the Azad government in 2008, by withdrawing its support to a Congress-led coalition.

Disclosing that he had kept his fingers crossed as he knew that the deal may prove unproductive for both the parties, he said that he had to go with the collective decision of the party.

He openly admitted the difference of opinion with Congress over the issue of restoration of autonomy to the state, a special status granted under article 370 of Indian constitution.

The statement comes barely a few days after the most senior Congress leader in the state, Gulam Nabi Azad, humiliated the NC by expressing his reservations about carrying forward the alliance to state assembly elections, scheduled by the end of this year.

The NC has hit back by saying it regrets its decision to enter a pre-poll alliance with the Congress.

Also, against the backdrop of a proposal to repeal Article 370, contained in the BJP manifesto, the NC is finding itself in a dilemma to address the concerns of the people in this context.

Passing the buck onto Congress, Kamal accepted that there was a difference of opinion with Congress members in the Cabinet Sub Committee, particularly with regard to the recommendation of restoration of autonomy.

The statement is seen as an effort to prevent any further loss in remaining four phases of polls, ending on May 7.

The difficulties for the NC seem to be far from over as, apart from facing heavy criticism over poor performance against its rivals in main stream politics, separatists have charged their barrels against the party.

The separatists are accusing the NC of being the main conspirator for laying impediments in the way towards self determination of Kashmiri people and diluting the special status of state.

The chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation front (JKLF) Yasin Malek, while addressing a well-attended boycott rally in the North Kashmir town of Bandipora on Thursday, came down heavily on the NC, accusing it of extending a helping hand to Delhi to merge Kashmir with Indian Union.

Caught in-between the criticism from all quarters, where NC is finding itself helpless to counter the situation, the statement by Dr Shaikh Mustafa Kamal is not only seen as an attempt towards the damage control, but also a reply to the humiliation inflicted by Ghulam Nabi Azad, while casting shadows over the possibility of alliance between NC and Congress in future.