Omar Abdullah To Contest Jammu And Kashmir Assembly Polls From Ganderbal Seat
The announcement was made by party leaders Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Nasir Aslam Wani in the presence of Omar Abdullah in the Nuner village of Ganderbal district.
Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice President of the National Conference (NC), will contest the upcoming assembly polls from the Ganderbal constituency.
The announcement was made by party leaders Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Nasir Aslam Wani in the presence of Omar Abdullah in the Nuner village of Ganderbal district, according to news agency ANI.
Omar Abdullah had earlier said that he would not contest the elections as long as J&K remained a Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir is going to polls for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
Speaking in Ganderbal, the family bastion of the Abdullahs, Omar said, "This is my first campaign meeting after the announcement of the assembly elections. It should have been in the constituencies going to polls in the first phase in south Kashmir. This may be a sign."
"I have not come to snatch mandate from someone nor give mandate, the decision lies with the party and the party president. But I will say this thing that we will not take a decision without consulting the party workers," he added.
Abdullah said he has always tried to serve the people of Ganderbal in various capacities.
"You people gave me a lot of respect and love. I cannot forget that you sent me to Parliament thrice. You let me serve you as an MLA for six years. Had I listened to you in 2014, I would have been your MLA till 2018, even if in opposition. Now only God knows what will happen in future. But we have to work hard," he said.
Don't Field Candidates Against NC-Congress: Omar To PDP
Omar Abdullah urged Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) party to not field candidates against NC-Congress nominees for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah's remarks came a day after Mehbooba said the PDP would extend complete support to the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance and leave all seats in the elections for the coalition if it accepts her party's agenda.
Abdullah served as the Chief Minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state from 2009 to 2015 and was also the president of his party. He is a three-time Lok Sabha MP and has represented the Assembly constituencies of Ganderbal (2008-2014) and Beerwah (2014-2019).
He lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla constituency in North Kashmir against independent candidate Er Rashid, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail alleged for terror-funding activities.
In the upcoming assembly elections in J&K, Abdullah's NC is contesting the polls in alliance with the Congress. Omar Abdullah has said that the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress has been finalised for a majority of assembly seats.
Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases -- September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held on October 4.
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