Rivalry with BJP, not with Centre: National Conference’s Omar Abdullah after J-K poll win | Srinagar News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Buoyed by the resounding victory in Jammu-Kashmir assembly elections, National Conference‘s Omar Abdullah has said that he now hopes that the Centre will fulfil the long-pending demand of full statehood in the Union Territory.

While interacting with journaists on Wednesday, Omar said that the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir is the only promise left to fulfill by the Centre and drew comparisons with Delhi’s similar demand .
“There is a difference between Delhi and us. Delhi was never a full state, and nobody ever promised to make it a state. J&K was a state before 2019, and restoration of statehood has been promised to us. PM, home minister, and senior ministers of the BJP have promised this and said again and again that three steps will be taken in J&K – delimitation, election, and then statehood.”
SEE ALSO: ‘Omar Abdullah will be CM’, says Farooq Abdullah as NC-Congress cross majority mark in J&K
“Delimitation and elections are done; now statehood remains. After the formation of government here, I hope the first decision of the cabinet will be to pass a resolution to grant statehood, and the resolution will be presented to the PM,” Omar added.
‘Rivalry with BJP, not with Centre’
Omar Abdullah also commented on coordination with the central government, stating, “Let the government be formed. Ask this to the CM who will get elected. My suggestion would be that it is essential to coordinate with New Delhi.”
“Our issues and difficulties won’t be resolved by fighting with Delhi (the Centre). We won’t accept the politics of the BJP, and the BJP won’t accept our politics; we will have a rivalry with the BJP. But it is not our compulsion to fight with the Centre. I think proper relations with the Centre will be good for J&K and the people of J&K. The people of J&K have not voted for fights; they voted because they want jobs, progress, statehood, relief in power supply, and resolution of other issues,” he added further.
‘I can’t retain both seats obviously’
When asked which seat he would relinquish between Budgam and Ganderbal, Omar Abdullah responded, “I can’t retain both seats… I will have to give up one. I will consult with my colleagues and inform you about the decision that will be made.”
On Haryana elections
When asked about the Haryana elections, Omar Abdullah shared his personal experience from the Baramulla Lok Sabha results.

“I have personal experience. A few months back when the results of Baramulla were coming in (in Lok Sabha elections), I was leading initially but it changed in half an hour and the margin kept bigger. I have always said that Exit Polls are a waste of time but such gross error,” Omar said.
“Here, 30 became 60 and 60 became 30. BJP formed the government for the third time there. Congress will have to have deep deliberations on this but that is not my work. My work is to run JKNC here and help the alliance, I would do that,” he added further.
On potential nominations
Omar Abdullah commented on the potential nomination of 5 MLAs to the J&K Assembly, advising against nominating them from the BJP.

“I would suggest them to not do it (nominate from BJP). Nominating these 5 won’t change the government, so what is the use of it? You would unnecessarily nominate 5 people to sit in Opposition,” Omar said.
There would be a fight as we would then have to approach the Supreme Court and appeal against it. There would be tensions in our relations with Centre from the first day, a relation that we want to build. Let the Government be formed, let them give suggestions and on that basis, LG should nominate. These 5 MLAs won’t make a change. Independent candidates are talking to us, they will join us so our lead would go up,” he added further.
Significant victory
Omar Abdullah achieved a significant victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, winning the Budgam and Ganderbal seats in Central Kashmir.
Omar maintained his family’s stronghold in Ganderbal, securing 32,727 votes. In Budgam, he defeated his PDP rivals with over 30,000 votes.