The National Conference has started giving “friendly” signals to the Congress after deciding to support UPA nominee Pratibha Patil in the coming presidential poll. The strategic planning was made some time back, but the decision to support Patil was formally taken today at the party’s working committee meeting.

The National Conference high command’s change of attitude was visible during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Jammu last Sunday. More than the stalwarts of the ruling coalition, it was party leader Dr Farooq Abdullah who dominated the political show throughout the day. He flew in the PM’s special plane along with Governor LT Gen (retd) S K Sinha and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to different official engagements.

The former Chief Minister succeeded in drawing the attention of one and all towards his ‘proximity’ with the Prime Minister. This was, however, reciprocated well by Singh who mentioned his name more than once in his address to the gathering. He was also among the few VVIPs at the Raj Bhavan lunch.

During the PM’s convocation, he was seated next to Union Minister Saif-u-din Soz and Congress leader Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma, much to the discomfiture of PDP stalwarts who were seated on nearby chairs. For all practical reasons, Congress stalwarts friendly gesture towards Abdullah was apparent and clear.

The NC’s friendly behaviour towards Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the last two years has no gone unnoticed. Instead of playing the role of an aggressive opposition, it has been rather soft on the failures and shortcomings of the Government led by him. The ocassional cry on the follies has only targeted the PDP.

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