 |
|
Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice President of the National Conference (NC), has announced his candidacy for the upcoming Assembly elections from the Ganderbal constituency. This decision marks a significant shift from his earlier stance, where he had stated his reluctance to contest elections while J&K remained a Union Territory. The announcement was made by Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a Lok Sabha member, and Nasir Aslam Wani, NC provincial president, in the presence of Omar Abdullah and other party leaders.
The upcoming Assembly elections in J&K are highly anticipated, being the first since the abrogation of Article 370. The NC has entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, and the seat-sharing arrangement has been finalized for the majority of constituencies. However, discussions are ongoing for the remaining seats, and candidates are expected to be revealed by August 27. The election process is scheduled to take place in three phases, starting on September 18, with voting continuing on September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held on October 4, concluding the entire poll process by October 6.
In a recent development, Omar Abdullah responded to Mehbooba Mufti's proposal to support the NC-Congress alliance in the elections if they adopt the PDP's agenda. Abdullah acknowledged the similarities in their manifestos but urged the PDP not to field candidates, suggesting a potential consolidation of efforts to achieve shared goals. The upcoming elections are expected to be closely contested, with political parties vying for the support of the electorate in the newly formed Union Territory.
Source: Omar Abdullah: Omar Abdullah to contest J&K assembly elections from Ganderbal