Jasleen Kour
Jammu, August 16: Within minutes, after Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the schedule for the three-phased maiden Assembly election in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah dropped hints to join the electoral battle.
“As far as I am concerned I had announced not to contest the Assembly elections but now I am facing pressure from my party leaders to join the electoral battle”, Omar Abdullah told media persons while reacting to the announcement of dates for Assembly polls in J&K.
“The biggest problem before me is that my father and the National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah is usually not feeling well and is aged now. If I do not contest the Assembly elections then Dr. Farooq Abdullah will be forced to join the electoral battle so the party leaders are mounting pressure on me to rethink my earlier decision not to contest the Assembly elections”, Omar said.
Hinting to join the electoral battle, Omar said, “Although I am strict to my earlier stand not to contest Assembly elections, now I will discuss this issue with my party colleagues and Dr. Farooq Abdullah to take a final call”.
Notably, on June 10 this year, Omar Abdullah similarly announced that he would not contest the Assembly elections under the current status. He stated that it would be humiliating for him to participate in the Assembly of the Union Territory.
Following a significant defeat in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat to Independent candidate Engineer Rashid, Omar Abdullah confirmed his decision to abstain from the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He made it clear, “I won’t contest the Assembly elections. While I will actively support my party and lead the campaign, I won’t seek a seat in the Union Territory’s Assembly.”
Omar Abdullah also emphasized his commitment to advocating for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He stated, “Only after achieving full statehood, if feasible, will I consider entering the Assembly to contribute,” adding, “I won’t subject myself to the humiliation of joining the Assembly of the Union Territory.”
Earlier, on November 3, 2022, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah had announced that Omar Abdullah would not contest Assembly elections until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is restored. Farooq reiterated that Omar had made it clear he would not participate in elections until the statehood is reinstated.
In 2020, following his release from prolonged detention, Omar Abdullah declared that he would not contest Assembly elections as long as Jammu and Kashmir remained a Union Territory. He argued that he had been a leader of a state with one of the most empowered assemblies in the country and could not be part of what he now views as one of the most disempowered assemblies.
EOM
