Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2024: National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday announced that he will lead the party in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, slated to be held in three phases from September 18.
He said that though he will contest the elections, his son, Omar Abdullah, has opted to refrain from participating in polls until the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir is restored, news agency PTI reported. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised as Union Territory.
"I will contest elections, Omar Abdullah will not contest elections. When the state status is granted then I will step down and Omar Abdullah will contest from that seat," Abdullah said, informing about his son's political plans.
Welcoming the Election Commission's decision to conduct the elections a bit earlier than anticiapted, Abdullah said: "I thank God for this decision. Earlier, there was speculation about the dates being set between the 20th and 25th, so I am pleased they have been moved up."
As per the poll body's announcement, the elections in the valley will be held on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results of the assembly polls will be announced on October 4.
The NC chief also expressed hope that the central rule will end in the Union Territory with the announcement of elections.
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Farooq Abdullah further stressed that his party had always been ready for elections. He told PTI: "We were prepared for the parliamentary elections and had requested that the assembly elections be held concurrently, but that did not happen."
He also expressed optimism that just like Lok Sabha elections, the valley will also witness a high voter turnout in the assembly polls.
"People will come out in large numbers to participate in the elections," he said.
Calling for a level playing field for all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, he alleged that the BJP held disproportionate advantages.
"The BJP is in power at the Centre and has access to all types of security compared to other parties. The Election Commission must ensure fairness," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister asserted.
On being asked whether his party NC would contest the polls independently, Abdullah said: "As of now, we have decided so. However, we will have thorough discussions within the party before taking a final decision. "
besides the assmebly polls, he also urged citizens to get ready for the upcoming panchayat, municipality, and town area elections, underlining the importance of setting up a democratic framework.
Commenting on the controversial issue of J&K's statehood, Farooq Abdullah lamented how the Centre "downgraded Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory". "I feel sorry and ashamed of it," he said.
He further challenged the BJP's leadership, asking them how they would react if their own states had faced something similar.
Acknowleding that the current situation in the valley in terms of security has improved compared to the past, Abdullah said while the issues have persisted since the 1990s, "today, the situation is not as severe. It is better now."
In response to the BJP's claims about forming government in Jammu and Kashmir, he quipped, "May God listen to them. They claimed over 400 seats in the parliamentary elections, but what did they achieve? If the Election Commission had not been there, they would not have secured over 140 seats."