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| Farooq sidelines Omar, eyes CM's office | | Promises moon, stars to lure voters | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 13: National Conference president and three time chief minister of J&K Dr Farooq Abdullah has completely sidelined his son the NC vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He (Farooq Abdullah) is spearheading the NC's election campaign and is busy making "tall promises."
An analyst while talking to Early Times said that to begin with Farooq Abdullah demoted his son (Omar) from the post of working president of NC to the vice-president of the party and got himself elected as the president of the party. Since that day he has not looked back and has taken complete charge of the party affairs.
A NC leader who wished not to be named said that Farooq has already told his close lieutenants that if NC is able to cobble up the numbers, he would himself like to be the Chief Minister of the state and would ask his son (Omar Abdullah) to gain some more experience in the politics. "Omar is aware about the plans of his father but has remained tightlipped. He (Omar) through his aides is trying to send a message that he could be a better Chief Minister than his father as he is young and dynamic," the NC leader claimed.
It's in place to mention here that since the day Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has been dissolved Farooq Abdullah has made plethora of promises. The NC president has promised autonomy, setting up of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and stopping "Operation All Out" against the militants.
A Kashmir watcher said that Farooq is busy touring different areas while Omar Abdullah has taken a back seat. "Omar keeps himself relevant by taking to twitter. He has realized that his father has cut him to size and wants to keep promise to himself," he added.
"Farooq Abdullah is aware about the fact that single party rule in Jammu and Kashmir is not possible. Whenever the elections will be held there is every possibility about people giving a fractured mandate. In that case NC may have to align with BJP to come into the power. Farooq knows that he can manage it but his son cannot so he has put himself in the driver's seat," the Kashmir watcher added.
An insider said that the veteran NC leaders have also advised Farooq to remain at the forefront as Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister proved to be a "disaster" which led to NC only winning 15 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections. "Till now Omar has not reacted but his loyalists are feeling the pinch. Most of them believe that if Farooq continues to dominate they would have to eat a humble pie and act as fence sitters," the insider added. |
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