DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
Srinagar, Oct 8
A scion of the influential Abdullah clan in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah faced a battle of prestige in the Assembly polls in the Union Territory. Securing an impressive victory in Budgam and leading in Ganderbal — the two seats that he contested — the third-generation politician is set to become the next Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and carry on his family’s legacy.
Just a few months ago, Abdullah, despite his privileged pedigree, endured an embarrassing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. The Assembly poll, held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, is perhaps a redemption of sorts for the National Conference leader.
With NC president Farooq Abdullah easing into retirement, many were of the view that this election would define the future of Omar Abdullah’s political career.
For the better part of the last five years, the 54-year-old former Union minister ruled out his participation in the Assembly polls in a Union territory set up. He had gone to the extent of saying that he would not humiliate himself by entering the Vidhan Sabha of a Union Territory.
However, he made a U-turn after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for Jammu and Kashmir. He decided to contest not one but two seats — Ganderbal, a constituency steeped in his family’s political legacy, and Budgam.
After the abrogation of Article 370 and reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, there has been an upsurge in support for the National Conference with a large chunk of voters throwing their weight behind the oldest political party of the region.
While contesting the party stronghold of Ganderbal should have been a cakewalk for Abdullah, he decided to play it safe and filed a nomination from the Budgam Assembly segment, scarred by the Lok Sabha poll defeat.
As the NC, which had a pre-poll tie-up with the Congress, has emerged as the biggest party in Jammu and Kashmir, it is the senior partner in the alliance and will be in a position to dictate terms in government formation.
Moreover, Farooq Abdullah has announced that Omar would be the next chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah, who has been a Lok Sabha member three times — 1998, 1999 and 2004 — is known to come back stronger after every electoral defeat.
He won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections after being humbled in his family bastion of Ganderbal in the 2002 Assembly elections by a little-known candidate — Qazi Mohammad Afzal.
It was Afzal, who as the forest minister, approved the transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in 2008 which sparked massive protests for and against the order in Jammu and valley respectively.
Seizing the opportunity, Abdullah made a career-defining speech in the Lok Sabha when the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was being discussed.
In the elections held at the end of 2008, he wrested Ganderbal and the NC emerged as the single largest party. He became the chief minister at the age of 38 — one of the youngest in the country — and headed the coalition government with the Congress.
Had the NC vice president lost the Assembly poll, no member of the Abdullah family would have been in either Parliament or the Vidhan Sabha for the first time since 1996.
PM Modi hails National Conference’s J&K Win, says proud of BJP Show
DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
New Delhi, Oct 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Jammu and Kashmir National Conference for their commendable performance in the Assembly elections and said he was proud of the BJP’s performance too.
“I thank all those who have voted for our party and placed their trust in us. I assure the people that we will keep working for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir. I also appreciate the industrious efforts of our Karyakartas,” the PM said.
He added these elections in Jammu and Kashmir have been very special.
“They were held for the first time after the removal of Articles 370 and 35(A), and witnessed a high turnout, thus showing the people’s belief in democracy. I compliment each and every person of Jammu and Kashmir for this,” the PM said.
Priority of Alliance Govt in J&K will be to restore Statehood: Congress
DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
New Delhi, Oct 8
The Congress on Tuesday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have defeated the “mischievous designs” of the BJP to “engineer a majority” and asserted that the Congress-NC government’s priority will be the restoration of full statehood for the Union Territory.
The opposition party, however, also conceded that its performance in Jammu should have been better.
The pre-poll alliance between the National Conference and Congress managed to cross the halfway mark by securing 48 seats with the regional party getting the lion’s share of 42 seats. The BJP secured 29 seats.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a clear, decisive, and convincing mandate to the NC-Congress alliance.
“The priority for the alliance government will be the restoration of full statehood for the UT of J&K. Of course, we have our manifestos, we will have a common programme. Both Congress and National Conference are duty bound to give a government, an administration that is responsible, responsive, accountable and transparent to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Ramesh said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters.
“I just want to say that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have defeated the mischievous designs of the BJP to engineer a majority of its own,” he said.
Ramesh alleged that till Monday, this effort was being made but the people’s verdict has come out very clearly and the moves of the BJP and those who were managing the elections to somehow cobble up a majority have been defeated.
“I admit that our performance should have been better in Jammu. There would be deliberation and review of that,” he said.
