| Omar repeats 2014, files nominations from 2 seats | | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 5: Repeating the 2014 episode, former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah filed his nomination papers from the Budgam Assembly segment of central Kashmir on the last day of filing papers for the second phase of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah’s move surprised his political rivals, especially the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
In a surprise move, Omar Abdullah filed his nomination papers from the Budgam Assembly segment, in addition to Ganderbal, on the last day of filing for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. This decision has caught his political rivals, particularly the People's Democratic Party (PDP), off guard.
Omar Abdullah has filed nomination papers from two Assembly segments: Ganderbal and Budgam. The National Conference confirmed this on social media, stating that Omar was accompanied by senior leaders and carried the prayers and good wishes of the party cadre and the people of J&K.
This is not the first time Omar Abdullah will contest elections from two seats. In 2014, he contested from Sonwar in Srinagar and Beerwah in Budgam district, winning the latt In a surprise move, Omar Abdullah filed his nomination papers from the Budgam Assembly segment in addition to Ganderbal
This decision has caught his political rivals, particularly the People's Democratic Party (PDP), off guard.
In 2014 Omar had contested from Sonwar in Srinagar and Beerwah in Budgam district, winning the latter.
The decision to contest from two seats may be a strategic move to maximize the National Conference's chances of winning. However, the final picture will emerge on September 9, the last date for withdrawing nomination papers.
Interestingly, in 2014, the National Conference had left Ganderbal, the family bastion of Abdullahs, for Ashfaq Jabbar, who had joined the party before the Assembly polls. This time, Omar Abdullah has decided to contest from Ganderbal, in addition to Budgam.
Before filing his nomination paper, Omar tried to pacify party leader Aga Syed Mehbooba, who was eying to contest the election on this seat.
Meanwhile, former minister and People’s Democratic Party senior leader Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura criticised National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah for contesting the Assembly election from two seats.
Lone pointed out that Abdullah’s decision to contest from two seats suggests uncertainty about his chances of winning.
“If Omar Abdullah truly believed that the people were with him, he would not have felt the need to contest from two different constituencies. His decision shows a clear lack of confidence in his own claims of widespread support,” Lone added. |
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