Omar Abdullah: INDIA Bloc to Form J&K Govt Only After Coalition Leader Is Elected

Srinagar, Oct 8: National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah stated on Tuesday that the INDIA alliance will stake its claim to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir only after the coalition partners meet to elect their leader in the state assembly. Addressing reporters outside his residence, Abdullah emphasized that the decision of leadership must be made collectively within the alliance.

“Let the NC legislative party meet. I am not personally staking a claim to the chief ministership of J&K. It is up to the alliance and the elected members to determine who they believe should lead the state over the next five years,” Abdullah remarked, clarifying his position.

His statement followed an announcement by NC president and his father, Farooq Abdullah, who declared Omar as the chief ministerial candidate. However, Omar Abdullah expressed his gratitude for the confidence placed in him but reiterated that the decision lies with the legislative party and the alliance partners. “This is a matter for the NC’s legislative body and the allies to decide together,” he affirmed.

Abdullah added that the party would take time to celebrate its victory and allow members to regroup before convening the NC’s legislative meeting. “In a couple of days, we will call our legislative party meeting to elect our leader. Following that, we will consult with the alliance to decide who will lead the coalition. Once we have all the letters of support, we will approach the Lieutenant Governor (LG) to stake our claim for government formation,” he explained.

He further highlighted that the electoral mandate demonstrated the people’s rejection of the BJP’s politics in Jammu and Kashmir. “The voters have decisively chosen against the BJP. There was no division of votes in Kashmir and the higher reaches of Jammu; people cast their ballots thoughtfully. It is now the responsibility of the alliance to provide a transparent and efficient government that meets the people’s expectations,” he asserted.

Earlier in Budgam, Omar Abdullah reflected on the challenges faced by his party, mentioning efforts over the past five years to undermine the NC by creating rival parties. “Despite attempts to dismantle the NC by creating new outfits, they have been decisively defeated in this election,” he said, expressing gratitude for the support shown by voters.

The NC leader won the Ganderbal and Budgam seats, securing victories over his closest opponents from the PDP by significant margins of over 10,000 and 18,000 votes, respectively. “I am grateful to the people of Budgam for their support, for trusting me, and for giving me the opportunity to serve them once again,” Abdullah noted after receiving his winning certificate.

He acknowledged that the party now has increased responsibilities, given the trust placed in them by the electorate. “Our duty is to meet the expectations of the people through our actions, and that will be our focus for the next five years,” he added.

Abdullah also expressed his appreciation for the congratulations extended by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on the NC’s significant victory, further underscoring the cooperative spirit needed for the future governance of Jammu and Kashmir.