STATE TIMES NEWS
BUDGAM: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah Thursday said contesting from two assembly seats is not a sign of weakness, but proves the strength of his party.
Abdullah has filed nomination for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls from two seats — Ganderbal and Budgam.
“My colleagues wanted to show that the NC is not fighting this election from a weak position, but a strong one. My contesting from two seats is not a sign of weakness, but strength, it is the proof of the NC’s strength,” Abdullah told reporters here after filing nomination papers.
The former chief minister said if there was any danger of his losing from Budgam, then his party colleagues would not have allowed him to contest from here.
“Whether it is Baramulla, Srinagar or Anantnag, there is a wave in favour of the NC and we hope that the party will be successful and the alliance candidates will also win,” he added.
The NC has an alliance with the Congress for the three-phase assembly polls.
Abdullah said the ground situation is in favour of his party and expressed hope the results of the election would prove that.
“We are not like those fools who talked about 400 plus (seats) and then stopped at 240. I hope when the counting takes places, we will be successful,” he said.
To a question about BJP general secretary Ram Madhav’s allegations that ex-militants are campaigning for NC and PDP, Abdullah said the BJP leader should prove his charges.
Abdullah said if his party is elected to power, investigations will be launched into the allegations of corruption and “mis-governance” during the last few years of lieutenant governor’s rule.
Asked about Congress’ district president in Ganderbal announcing to contest against him, Abdullah said such things were expected when the alliance between the two parties took place.
“We knew such things will happen. You cannot make 100 per cent people happy in a party during elections. I am satisfied that the dissentions in our party are less than what we expected.
“My colleagues have left their expectations on one side to work for the party and the alliance. I do not have words for them and my regards for them has increased. But, there are some people who have kept their self-interest on top. The voters will decide on them,” he said.
Expressing hope that the people will follow the example set in the Parliamentary polls of participating in the elections in large numbers and not boycotting the process, the NC leader said the maps of certain constituencies were redrawn in the delimitation exercise to benefit the BJP and the voters will have to see to that.
