In a significant political development, National Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced that he will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from the Ganderbal constituency. This marks a notable shift in Abdullah’s stance, as he had previously pledged not to participate in any elections until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood was restored.
Omar Abdullah’s decision comes on the heels of his defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the Baramulla district, where he lost to the imprisoned candidate Engineer Rashid. The decision to return to the Ganderbal seat holds symbolic importance, as the constituency has long been a stronghold for the Abdullah family. Historically, it has elected three generations of Abdullahs: NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1977, his son Farooq Abdullah in 1983, 1987, and 1996, and Omar Abdullah in 2008.
On August 16, NC President Farooq Abdullah had announced that he would lead the party in the assembly elections, which are scheduled in three phases starting from September 18. The party released a list of 32 candidates on Tuesday, which included Omar Abdullah’s name for the Ganderbal seat, a constituency he represented during his tenure as the Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014.
The decision marks a reversal from Omar Abdullah’s earlier stance. Addressing the media on Monday, he acknowledged his dilemma regarding the Assembly elections, stating that his earlier decision not to contest could send a “wrong signal” to voters and party members.
“I am conscious of one thing which I had not thought over fully, which is my mistake. If I was not ready to contest an election for an assembly, how can I get the people ready to vote for that assembly?” Abdullah said. He further added, “How can I hope that my colleagues will seek votes for an assembly which I am not ready to accept or may be suggesting that I look down upon? It has put pressure on me, and I do not want to give a wrong signal to the people.”
This announcement is likely to reinvigorate NC’s campaign, especially in Ganderbal, where the party’s legacy runs deep.