SRINAGAR, Sept 22: Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference (NC), recently explained the rationale behind the party’s pre-poll alliance with Congress for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, emphasizing the need to provide voters with a clear alternative to avoid a hung assembly. The alliance aims to ensure political stability and dispel any uncertainty regarding the formation of a functional government, Abdullah said on Sunday. According to the seat-sharing arrangement, the NC will contest 51 seats, Congress will contest 32, and the CPI(M) will contest one. For six remaining seats, there will be a “friendly contest” between the Congress and the NC, giving voters a wide array of choices without fracturing the opposition vote.
Speaking to reporters during a shikara rally on Dal Lake, organized in support of the NC’s candidate for the Zadibal constituency, Tanvir Sadiq, Abdullah further elaborated on the importance of the alliance. “We could have chosen to form a post-poll coalition, but the decision to form a pre-poll alliance was deliberate. It gives the people clarity, ensuring there is no doubt about whether a government will be formed after the elections,” he said. Abdullah also dismissed any concerns over potential electoral manipulation, stating that the feedback from voters indicated strong support for the alliance, which he believes will prevent a hung assembly.
Abdullah also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming it would prefer a hung assembly to prolong the current administration under Lieutenant Governor’s rule, which has been in place since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019. “The BJP would want a fractured mandate so that they can continue with the lieutenant governor’s rule, but the people of Jammu and Kashmir won’t allow that to happen. They want a functional, elected government,” he asserted.
In a pointed critique of the BJP’s election strategy in the region, Abdullah noted the party’s minimal campaigning in Kashmir compared to Jammu. According to Abdullah, this is because the BJP recognizes that it has little to gain from the Valley. He further commented on the BJP’s perceived neglect of the Muslim population, which comprises 16% of India’s population, but is not reflected in the party’s leadership. “The BJP’s attitude toward Muslims is clear. Despite such a significant Muslim population, they couldn’t find even one Muslim leader capable of being appointed as a minister in the central government. This speaks volumes about their approach toward the community,” he remarked.
The former Chief Minister also addressed the BJP’s recurring criticism of political dynasties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Abdullah family. He claimed that the BJP’s focus on the so-called “rule of three families” is a diversionary tactic to mask its governance failures in the region. “Over the past five years, the BJP has nothing to show for Jammu and Kashmir. There has been no substantial development, no policy achievements. So, to deflect from their shortcomings, they resort to attacking the dynastic politics narrative. If they had delivered on their promises, they wouldn’t need to rely on this rhetoric,” Abdullah stated.
Further criticizing the current administration, Abdullah pointed out the lower voter turnout in several areas of Kashmir in comparison to the 2014 assembly elections, questioning the government’s claims of normalcy. Citing Noorabad (now D H Pora), he noted that voter turnout in 2014 was around 80%, but it dropped to 68% this time, despite no organized boycott calls. Abdullah urged the government to reflect on why turnout was lower, even as it claims that everything in the region is returning to normalcy post-Article 370 abrogation.
When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming visit to Kashmir, Abdullah welcomed the visit and expressed hope that Gandhi would make more frequent trips to the region to bolster Congress’s campaign against the BJP. “Rahul Gandhi’s visit is a good move, but I hope he comes more often, especially to engage with party workers and constituents where Congress is contesting. The BJP has been quite active, with the Prime Minister visiting twice, the Home Minister visiting thrice, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh making regular trips. Rahul Gandhi needs to counter this by showing strong leadership in the region,” Abdullah suggested.
He further highlighted that this election is a crucial one, not only for the future of Jammu and Kashmir but also for ensuring that the voices of its people are heard through an elected assembly. Abdullah reiterated that the National Conference and its allies are committed to preserving the region’s unique identity while ensuring good governance, economic development, and political stability. According to him, the Congress-NC alliance offers the people of Jammu and Kashmir a viable path forward, while the BJP is primarily interested in maintaining its grip on power through undemocratic means.