SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah submitted Thursday his nomination papers from Budgam in central Kashmir, choosing to contest from two constituencies in the J&K assembly elections. The day before, he had filed his papers for the family stronghold of Ganderbal, where the race intensified with some contestants apparently complicating matters for Omar.
Both constituencies will vote in the second phase of the three-leg elections on Sept 25.
As an explanation for contesting from a second constituency, Omar said: “The contest from Budgam shows NC is not weak. It is proof of our power. Had there been any risk in fighting polls from Budgam, my party colleagues would not have recommended me to contest. There is a wave for NC in every nook and cranny of J&K.”
He predicted that NC and alliance partner Congress would be voted to office. The new assembly would make the world aware of “decisions taken against J&K and its people in the past five years”, the former CM said.
Omar’s decision drew criticism from political opponents. “If Omar Abdullah truly believes the people are with him, he would not have felt the need to contest from two constituencies. His decision shows a clear lack of confidence,” PDP’s Ghulam Nabi Lone said.
According to sources, at least three factors might have influenced Omar’s decision. “In Ganderbal, Omar is facing dissent from a section of NC workers seeking a local candidate. He also faces a tough, multi-pronged fight in Ganderbal. His prospects appear better in Budgam, where he led in votes during his Lok Sabha defeat to independent candidate Engineer Rashid,” said a source.
Baramulla MP Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party has fielded former Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Sheikh Ashiq as an independent candidate in Ganderbal. Former CM Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP has nominated Bashir Ahmad Mir.
Adding to the competition is jailed separatist cleric Sarjan Ahmad Barkati, who had his nomination papers for Zainapora in south Kashmir rejected. Barkati has now opted to contest from Ganderbal, traditionally an NC bastion. The Abdullah family has represented Ganderbal since 1977, beginning with party founder Sheikh Abdullah, followed by his son Farooq Abdullah, and later Omar, who won the seat in 2008 after losing it in 2002.
Omar has faced criticism for participating in the elections after earlier announcing that he would abstain until J&K’s full statehood was restored. He later admitted: “Staying out of the elections was a mistake. Seeking votes from the people while not being a candidate myself seemed contradictory.”
These elections will be the first since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the region into two Union territories, including Ladakh. The NC-Congress campaign focuses on the restoration of J&K’s statehood — a demand that resonates across both Kashmir and Jammu.
Both constituencies will vote in the second phase of the three-leg elections on Sept 25.
As an explanation for contesting from a second constituency, Omar said: “The contest from Budgam shows NC is not weak. It is proof of our power. Had there been any risk in fighting polls from Budgam, my party colleagues would not have recommended me to contest. There is a wave for NC in every nook and cranny of J&K.”
He predicted that NC and alliance partner Congress would be voted to office. The new assembly would make the world aware of “decisions taken against J&K and its people in the past five years”, the former CM said.
Omar’s decision drew criticism from political opponents. “If Omar Abdullah truly believes the people are with him, he would not have felt the need to contest from two constituencies. His decision shows a clear lack of confidence,” PDP’s Ghulam Nabi Lone said.
According to sources, at least three factors might have influenced Omar’s decision. “In Ganderbal, Omar is facing dissent from a section of NC workers seeking a local candidate. He also faces a tough, multi-pronged fight in Ganderbal. His prospects appear better in Budgam, where he led in votes during his Lok Sabha defeat to independent candidate Engineer Rashid,” said a source.
Baramulla MP Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party has fielded former Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Sheikh Ashiq as an independent candidate in Ganderbal. Former CM Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP has nominated Bashir Ahmad Mir.
Adding to the competition is jailed separatist cleric Sarjan Ahmad Barkati, who had his nomination papers for Zainapora in south Kashmir rejected. Barkati has now opted to contest from Ganderbal, traditionally an NC bastion. The Abdullah family has represented Ganderbal since 1977, beginning with party founder Sheikh Abdullah, followed by his son Farooq Abdullah, and later Omar, who won the seat in 2008 after losing it in 2002.
Omar has faced criticism for participating in the elections after earlier announcing that he would abstain until J&K’s full statehood was restored. He later admitted: “Staying out of the elections was a mistake. Seeking votes from the people while not being a candidate myself seemed contradictory.”
These elections will be the first since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the region into two Union territories, including Ladakh. The NC-Congress campaign focuses on the restoration of J&K’s statehood — a demand that resonates across both Kashmir and Jammu.
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