Jammu, Mar 27: The National Conference-Congress Coordination Committee, which held an hour-long meeting here Sunday, failed to evolve any consensus over the seat sharing arrangements for the upcoming elections to six seats of the Legislative Council, scheduled to be held on April 13.
Informed sources told Greater Kashmir that the National Conference has staked claim over four out of six seats falling vacant in the Legislative Council next month while Congress is demanding an equal distribution of seats.
 The meeting, which was attended by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Law Minister AM Sagar, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and MLC Amrit Malhotra continued for over one hour at the state guest house here this evening.
 Sources said no consensus could be evolved, with both the sides deciding to meet again on Monday after holding consultations with their party leadership.
 Sources said the deadlock emerged after the Congress staked claim on all the three seats falling vacant from Jammu region, including one reserved for border district of Poonch.
 However, the NC leadership wanted at least one seat for Jammu region as it will have to face strong contest on one out of three seats in Kashmir region from opposition PDP, which has already announced its candidate.
 Though both the parties have kept all cards closed, sources said former deputy chief minister Managat Ram Sharma, former minister Jugal Kishor and former MP Janak Raj Gupta are believed to be strong contenders for the Jammu seats from Congress.
 The National Conference is contemplating to give both the seats in Kashmir Valley to South Kashmir, where the party has no representation as of now. However, the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah has expressed willingness to give at least one seat to North Kashmir, instead.
 The Jammu-based opposition does not seem have any role in the elections, except that it can reduce the winning criteria (minimum vote) in case it abstains from the polling.
 Speculations are rife that the PDP and some opposition members may support an independent candidate for one of the seat from Jammu.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST