Consensus on few seats awaited: Omar on alliance with Congress

Srinagar, August 23

A day after the National Conference (NC) and the Congress sealed an alliance for the three-phase Assembly poll in J&K, slated to begin next month, NC vice-president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the consensus on some of the seats was yet to be finalised.

Omar on Friday travelled to South Kashmir’s Kulgam, where senior party leader and former minister Sakina Itoo, filed her nomination papers from Damhal Hanjipora Assembly seat in Kulgam district.

“We hope that when the people of J&K decide about their government for the next five years, they provide an opportunity to the NC to serve the people here,” he added.

Omar told reporters that consensus has been reached on a maximum of the total 90 seats. He, however, added that the two parties were yet to reach a consensus on a few seats.

“We are adamant on some seats, and some local Congress leaders are adamant on other seats. We will sit again today and will try, to bring the other seats under the alliance,” he said.

Asked when the party would announce the candidates, Omar said, “Which party has announced its candidates so far? Those parties who have announced their lists, they haven’t named the candidates. They have cleverly named people as constituency in-charges. Our constituency in-charges have been working for the last 10 years. So, why are you after our lists, ask them,” he said, while referring to the PDP. He said, “Our list will have to be out in any case by August 27.”