National Conference to contest Lok Sabha polls ‘on its own’, says party chief Farooq Abdullah; Omar Abdullah clarifies

PTI

Srinagar, February 15

The National Conference, biggest regional party of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday announced it would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and possible assembly polls in the Union Territory “on its own”.

This was announced by the party chief and Lok Sabha MP Farooq Abdullah here. It comes as yet another setback to the INDIA bloc as well as the regional PAGD alliance.

“Elections will happen and I think both assembly and Parliament elections will be held together.

“As far as seat sharing is concerned, I want to make it clear that the National Conference will contest elections on its own. There are no two views about it,” Abdullah told reporters here.

The National Conference has been a part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) grouping formed last year and comprises the Congress, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress, DMK, Left parties among others.

The AAP and Trinamool Congress have also said they would be going alone in Punjab and West Bengal.

The decision of the National Conference also signals an end to the People’s Alliance on Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which was formed ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Earlier, the regional grouping had indicated that it will fight elections jointly.

NC in talks with Congress for three Lok Sabha seats, is part of INDIA bloc: Omar clarifies 

Meanwhile, party leader Omar Abdullah clarified on Thursday that the National Conference is part of the INDIA grouping and will continue to be, and said it is in talks with the Congress for an arrangement in three of the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Omar Abdullah’s statement came shortly after NC chief Farooq Abdullah told reporters that the party would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and possible assembly polls in the Union Territory on its own.

“We were a part of the INDIA alliance and we still are. Things have been taken out of context. The main idea of the grouping is to defeat the BJP for there is no point in sailing in two boats,” Omar Abdullah said with his father, Farooq Abdullah, by his side.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the union territory next week, he said, “We will also get to know how much development has happened in Jammu and Kashmir.”  

He said the Prime Minister should start his theory of one nation, one election from Jammu and Kashmir. 

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