Jammu, Sep 15 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir's ruling partners may go separate ways in the forthcoming municipal elections with state Congress chief Saifuddin Soz telling party workers that the polls are likely to be a friendly match with the National Conference (NC).

"We will chalk out our own course, We may not go jointly into the polls, at best it may be a friendly match between the Congress and the National Conference," Soz told party workers Wednesday.

Party insiders said Soz had given a green signal to Congress workers to raise issues concerning people and expose the weaknesses of the government. There is a clear attempt to widen the distance between Congress and National Conference, the two parties that have been ruling the state for the past over 20 months, said a party leader.

The Congress will campaign separately in all the constituencies of municipal corporations, committees and other civic bodies in the state.

The elections are likely to be announced soon after the assembly session in October.

The NC, according to party sources, is not keen on fighting elections as an ally of Congress either. Both parties have their separate bases of support. While the NC is strong in the Valley, the Congress enjoys support in the plains and hills of Jammu.