Voters have supported our policies, performance, stand on 370, 35A: NC

SRINAGAR: The National Conference has bagged all three seats in the Kashmir Valley — Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla — in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. While the party had lost these seats to PDP in 2014, its president Farooq Abdullah was elected from Srinagar in the by-elections in 2017.

Nasir Aslam Wani

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 25

The National Conference has bagged all three seats in the Kashmir Valley — Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla — in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. While the party had lost these seats to PDP in 2014, its president Farooq Abdullah was elected from Srinagar in the by-elections in 2017. Kashmir provincial president of the party, Nasir Aslam Wani, talks to The Tribune on the party’s performance and goal ahead.

How did the NC make it possible to get all three seats back in Kashmir?

Party leaders visited all areas of the valley as part of the mass contact programme. The leadership and cadres tried their level best to reach out to the people who have always been supporting the party and liking its policies. It has been mainly possible because of the fact that party cadres and its leadership worked together.

What have been the major factors responsible for the party’s victory in Kashmir?

The party leadership and cadres worked tirelessly. People reposed faith in the party. The main agenda during the campaign was the party’s stand on the safety of Article 370 and 35A. People have been worried about the fate of these constitutional guarantees. We have a clear stand on these issues and our representatives, including one of the elected MPs (Justice Retd Hassnain Masoodi from Anantnag) would be raising the party’s voice in Parliament.

How much was the level of confidence in view of Farooq Abdullah having won the 2017 by-elections from Srinagar?

The 2014 elections, both Parliament and J&K state assembly, were a huge setback for the party. The 2017 by-elections gave us confidence and there had been a clear vindication of the losses in 2014. People in general accepted our policies and performance and converted it into full support while electing our candidates.

Looking at the past performance, do you think that the party lost at the ground level as the voter turnout declined in these elections?

That should be a question for other parties, the BJP at the Centre and its coalition partner, the PDP, in the state for over three years from 2015 to 2018. These parties have been responsible for the deteriorating overall situation in the state, particularly Kashmir valley. The situation led to the decline in voter turnout in these elections, as compared to the larger participation in 2014.

In view of the results, how are you expecting the party to perform in the assembly elections ahead?

We have got winning leads in at least 35 assembly segments, out of the 46 segments spread over three parliamentary constituencies in the Valley. This will definitely add to our performance in the state assembly elections as and when these are held. But we cannot be complacent and will continue our efforts towards better performance.