Srinagar, Oct 30: Omar Abdullah, the Vice-President of the National Conference and former Chief Minister, expressed his growing concerns on Monday about the continued postponement of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
He stressed that the “people in the region eagerly wait for the day when elections for a local constituent assembly can be conducted.
Omar Abdullah emphasized that while the Supreme Court was apprised of the successful organization of local body, Panchayat, DDC, and BDC elections in J&K, there has been an unsettling silence regarding the scheduling of assembly elections in the region.
Earlier, the National Conference held a substantial workers’ convention in Kupwara, north Kashmir, where senior party leaders addressed attendees and underscored the importance of expanding the party’s public outreach programs to strengthen its grassroots presence.
Omar, a former Chief Minister of J&K, underscored that the motivation behind holding Parliamentary elections lies in the BJP government’s constraints, with only a handful of individuals in the country privy to the actual election timeline.
Responding to inquiries about the National Conference’s choice for the north Kashmir Parliamentary seat, he clarified that the decision would be a result of consultations with the party’s leadership. “Regarding the selection of a candidate for Lok Sabha elections in north Kashmir, the decision will be made by the party. We will contribute our input for a suitable candidate from north Kashmir, but the final verdict will rest with the party’s high command.”
Omar raised a pertinent question about the delay in conducting elections in J&K despite the current normalcy. He challenged, “If the situation is indeed normal, then what is holding the BJP government back from holding assembly elections in J&K, particularly when the conditions have notably improved compared to previous years?”
