The National Conference (NC) and its chief, Farooq Abdullah, have announced that they will contest the assembly elections alone beginning in three phases from September 18. I spoke to Abdulla yesterday, and he assured PTI that he would be in the fray for the elections. His son Omar Abdullah has decided not to contest until statehood to J&K is granted.
This election is held against the backdrop of Jammu and Kashmir’s recent reorganization as a Union Territory in 2019 after striking off Article 370. Abdullah, on the Election Commission’s decision to move up the election dates, said, “I thank God for this decision. “October 18, September 25, and October 1 have been set for the polls, while the results will be declared on October 4.
Continuing his attack on central rule, Abdullah said the NC was ready for assembly polls and hoped for an early end to central rule in the region. He recalled that they were ready for the parliamentary elections and had applied for both the parliamentary and the assembly polls simultaneously but failed to get through. The former CM expressed confidence that the voter turnout would be good.
Abdullah has also asked for a level playing field in the electoral process. He said the BJP has undue benefits that flow from the Centre, which has plenty of resources. He called on the Election Commission to provide a fair, level ground for all the parties.
When asked about the chances of the NC fielding an independent candidate, he stated that its feasibility would be decided within the organization. He also called on the people to prepare for the forthcoming panchayat and municipal elections so that they could try to restore the structures that had been dismantled by the Maoists.
He said he wished Jammu and Kashmir remained a Union Territory at its current political status and asked how the BJP would react if similarly placed. When asked about security challenges, Abdullah admitted that owing to situations that have persisted since the early 1990s, the situation today is even better.
It was a sarcastic remark aimed at the BJP, which asserts that it can form a government in the region; ‘May God listen to them’, said Farooq Abdullah, ‘despite boasting of 400 plus parliamentary seats, what did they achieve? ‘ So, with assembly elections around the corner, Farooq Abdullah’s leadership will be the key to unlocking the new political structure of Jammu and Kashmir.
