Amarnath land row did us in Jammu region: Congress

As BJP gained in Jammu region, Congress said the controversy over the transfer of land to Amarnath shrine cost the party heavily in the region.

As BJP gained in Jammu region, Congress on Sunday said the controversy over the transfer of land to Amarnath shrine cost the party heavily in the region.

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"Amarnath land row cost us dearly. It is an emotive issue and it took place just before the elections...Had the land row not been there, we could have swept the polls," AICC General Secretary Prithviraj Chavan said in New Delhi.

The Congress leader hoped that the party would be able to retain 20 seats which it had won in the last elections.

"We contested a hard election. The Congress is there to stay in the state," Chavan said.

Asked with whom would the party go with in forming the next government, he said "options are open. It will be a coalition government."

Chavan said that the Congress-led coalition government in the state had launched several developmental works and wants to continue it.

"We thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their participation in the elections prove their faith in democracy and our neighbours should learn a lesson from it," Chavan added.