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| Farooq to run for CM | | Omar takes charge of mandates, campaign | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 23: A day after taking lead in hitting the hostile political landscape of Kashmir Valley, the National Conference today took the giant leap of positioning itself ahead of other parties in its election preparedness –party president Omar Abdullah has declared that Dr Farooq Abdullah will be the Chief Ministerial candidate.
Omar announced father’s candidate as party leader at a time when NC’s other main competitors –the Peoples Democratic Party and Congress are yet to shape up their election strategies and clear the leadership issues. It may be mentioned here that in 2002 assembly elections National Conference had projected Omar as the Chief Ministerial candidate.
Addressing a press conference here, National Conference president Omar Abdullah said the people of the state had experienced the "misgovernance of coalition government".
"Six years of coalition rule in state was an eye-opener for people when misgovernance was the order of the day. Coalitions are neither good for governance, nor development. We shall be taking the message during these elections that coalitions are not in the interest of people especially in a state like Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
He declared that Farooq Abdullah, the party patron, will be the chief ministerial candidate of the party and he himself would also be contesting the polls. "I will be responsible for all positives and negatives as the party president," Omar said.
On being asked about the boycott call from separatists on elections, he said that there is fair chance of low turnout of voters in valley, but elections are essential in democracy. He further said that only one candidates name has been announced with the passage of time, other will be announced.
On Mehbooba Mufti contesting from Anantnag constituency shifting from Pahalgam, he said that she was afraid of losing from Pahalgam, so she might have shifted to other constituency and our candidate against her will be announced at proper time. “I as a party president will be responsible for giving mandate to candidates and my father Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who is also the patron of the party, will be the chief ministerial candidate”, said Omar.
Losing or winning of candidate will by my responsibility, he added and said that NC is the only party which represents the aspirations of the all three regions of the state and we have proven our relevance. Trade with PoK traders on LoC is a welcome step and it should go beyond the list of 21 items. Holding of elections will also bring two regions Jammu & Kashmir together again. There will be mixture of new and old faces in the elections and will go alone in contesting elections. As we have seen the picture of coalition politics in the state which has ruined it, he added.
The National Conference suffered a defeat in the 2002 election and the party president hoped that this time he would reverse the trend and "lead the National Conference to power".
Jammu and Kashmir is under governor's rule since July 11 after the former Congress-led coalition government was toppled when crucial ally Peoples Democratic Party withdrew its support on the Amarnath land row.
The National Conference president said separatist leaders in the Kashmir Valley should be allowed to carry on their poll boycott campaign but added: "No use of guns should be there."
Omar Abdullah on Wednesday started his poll campaign in central Kashmir Budgam district. |
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