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| 'Disappointed' Omar leaves for London | | Kabhi Haan…Kabhi Naa! | | Poll announcement 'unnerves' Sagar,
issues contradictory statements
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah left for London a day before Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the five phased Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir today.
Sources said that Omar decided to leave for London as his desperate attempts to get the elections postponed did not pay any dividends. "Omar has gone to London to seek his father (Dr Farooq Abdullah's) advice and to take a break," they said.
Insiders told Early Times that Omar before leaving for London asked the party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar to finalize the mandates for the remaining seats and ensure a "safe constituency" for him (Omar). "Mood within the party is gloomy as neither the NC workers nor the leaders believe that they can retain the power as floods have spelled doom for the ruling party," the insider said.
Soon after the elections were announced Sagar issued two statements the first which was released to press around 4:35 pm the NC General Secretary threatened that NC may boycott the polls. "Now the Election Commission of India has in its wisdom announced the schedule for the elections in the state, the National Conference will internally discuss and decide the further course of action."
However, sources said, that Sagar was asked to soften his stand and refrain from taking cajoles with the ECI. Following the advice he issued another statement at around 6:30 pm saying, "National Conference discussed the matter regarding the participation of the party in the polls with the Working President of the Party Omar Abdullah and other senior colleagues. The party High Command feels that though the time is not appropriate for the elections to be held in the state in view of the sufferings of the people, but since the party has always been a votary of strengthening democracy and democratic values in the state it will participate in the polls."
Sources said that Omar leaving the state at "crucial time" has disillusioned the NC functionaries and confusion is ruling the roost. "Many NC leaders had suggested that party should boycott the elections as a face saving measure but it was decided at the last moment that there is no harm in trying the luck," said a source.
He said that Omar Abdullah is still indecisive about where to contest from as the feedback he is getting from the ground is adverse. "Omar has gone to London to see if his ailing father (Dr Farooq) can help him and whether he is in a position to campaign for the party," the source added.
A PDP leader said that Omar leaving for London one day ahead of the poll announcement indicates that he has "conceded defeat" and has lost interest in contesting the elections.
"The Chief Minister knows it very well that his performance during the past six years remained dismal and he has nothing to offer to the masses that's why he said goodbye to JK even before poll dates were announced. He has lost interest as he know his party is fighting a lost battle," the leader claimed. |
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