Amir Tantray
Doda, Apr 15: Since the National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced to contest the Parliamentary elections from Baramulla constituency, he is hopeful of getting support from party leaders from north Kashmir to make him win.
Omar Abdullah said that every election is a risk but he is hopeful of emerging victorious.
“Tell me which election is not risky. There is always risk in every election but as far as Baramulla seat is concerned I am hopeful that leaders of my party will give full support and NC will emerge winner from this seat,” Omar replied whether he has taken a risk or played a masterstroke by contesting from Baramulla.
Omar’s decision to contest from Baramulla seat came as a big surprise to everyone as already his arch rival and former ally of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Sajad Gani Lone is contesting from this seat and has strong footing in Kupwara district. Lone has the backing of his colleagues including a Shia cleric and former minister in PDP-BJP government Imran Raza Ansari and Basharat Bukhari, another former minister who has been part of both NC and PDP. Both of them belong to Baramulla district and have backing of people in their respective segments. A former PDP MLC Yasir Reshi has also hinted to support Lone in these elections.
Former legislator from Langate Engineer Rasheed, who is behind bars for a few years, is also contesting and can fetch good votes in his area.
But despite all this, Omar believes that NC will emerge victorious.
When asked why Congress party, the main partner of INDIA bloc, hasn’t mentioned restoration of Article 370 in its manifesto as NC is advocating for it, Omar replied, “No doubt it may not be in their plans at present but Article 370 is our plan. It is not like that nobody is with us on this. There are many parties in the INDIA bloc who are with us like DMK, TMC and Left parties and we are not alone in this fight.”
Since the former Chief Minister has entered Chenab valley yesterday, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) President Ghulam Nabi Azad has remained on his target and he even said that twice NC sent Azad to Rajya Sabha. When asked why Azad has ditched Congress, Omar said, “I am not able to understand why Azad has done this. When he left Congress party he announced to set up a national party but it has been reduced to a party of one parliamentary seat and it is not even a state party. A man with a stature of being a national level leader is now doing politics of Udhampur parliamentary seat. This is disappointing.”
