Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday held out an olive branch to “like-minded” parties for government formation, saying they were open to take support in case the need arises.

Karra was apparently hinting at an alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party, which is part of the INDIA bloc but was kept out of a pre-poll tie-up at the instance of the National Conference.

The NC and the Congress are alliance partners and Karra’s offer suggests they might need the backing of other parties. The Congress-NC and the PDP had engaged in a bitter campaign against each other.

“What is apparent is that the people have voted in favour of the alliance or to keep the BJP out of the power corridors, which is a good thing,” Karra told reporters in Srinagar. “But if the need arises, our doors are open for all like-minded people, forces, parties and even individuals. We can discuss this with our alliance partner (NC) so that we can talk to such people if there is a need.”

Asked whether the PDP was a “like-minded party”, the Congress leader said he would not like to pigeonhole anyone. “I have said like-minded, on the same page against the BJP’s repressive, oppressive policies,” he said.

While seeking the support of other parties, Karra insisted that the high turnout in the just-concluded Assembly polls would definitely go in favour of the alliance.

The Pradesh Congress Committee leader minced no words about the “Independent” factor in the elections, saying they had been fielded to fragment the votes and play spoilers. He was asked whether the Independents could play kingmakers.

The Centre had allowed the separatist Jamaat-e-Islami and Sheikh Abdul Rashid-led Awami Ittehad Party, in addition to several others with a separatist past, to contest the polls as Independents.

Karra said the “Independent factor” did not exist in Jammu but was encouraged in the Valley to disempower Kashmiris.

The Congress leader said when the Centre realised that all its experiments and formulas were failing, it implemented “a novel way to fragment votes” in Kashmir by fielding Independents.

“Their only aim is to disempower Kashmiris and in their own way propel all Mir Qasims and Mir Jaffars (collaborators). This phenomenon of fielding Independents is part of their nefarious design,” Karra said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief said there was also “a nefarious design” behind the process of the lieutenant governor nominating five MLAs to the Assembly.

Asked if the Independent candidates could emerge as the kingmakers after the poll results are announced on October 8, Karra said they saw such nominees as “spoilers”.

Karra claimed there was no “actual peace” in Jammu and Kashmir but an atmosphere of fear and oppression had been created to silence people. “Jammu and Kashmir is being run through a jackboot policy,” he said.