Lucknow Press
Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah has declared party vice president Omar Abdullah as the next chief minister. After this, newly elected MLA Omar said on Wednesday that this decision is ultimately in the hands of the MLAs and the coalition. He said that I am very grateful for the trust shown in me by him (Farooq Abdullah), but this decision has to be taken by the MLAs. This decision has to be taken by the coalition. I love my father very much and I am very grateful for the support he showed me yesterday, but in the end the MLAs have to take the decision and I am always a person who works according to the rules and regulations. He said this is the process that has to be followed and this is what will be done.
The JKNC Vice President outlined two priorities for the incoming government – legislative and governmental – with an emphasis on passing a resolution to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He said that whoever takes oath as the Chief Minister in the next few days will have two priorities – one is legislative, which the members of the Assembly will decide when the session is convened, but the second priority will be related to the government. My suggestion to the incoming government is that the first task of the cabinet should be to pass a resolution to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and the Chief Minister should go to Delhi with that resolution, meet the senior leadership of the country and ask them to fulfill their promise.
Omar Abdullah further expressed his gratitude and humility to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have given a mandate to his party. He said that I am overwhelmed by the decision of the people, overwhelmed by the mandate that people have given. I am also well aware of what responsibility this mandate puts on us. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted, they have raised their voice, they want to be a part of the process of governance, they want to feel part of the decision-making process and it is our responsibility to take them along with us.
The National Conference leader said that since 2018, there has been no hearing of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Now the time has come for us to work in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I am also well aware of the fact that there is a big divide between Kashmir and Jammu. Therefore, the incoming government will have a big responsibility to give a sense of ownership to the people of Jammu. Omar said that the incoming government will represent every person of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of their voting choices. He said that the government that will come in the next few days will not be of the National Conference, the alliance or those who voted for us. It will be the government of every person of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of who they voted for or whether they voted at all. Special emphasis will be laid on giving a sense of ownership and voice within the government in those areas from where the number of MLAs of this alliance will be less.
Omar said that first of all, wait for the legislature party meeting tomorrow. After the meeting, there will be a coalition meeting, in which the leader of the alliance will be selected. I think the alliance leaders will go to the Raj Bhavan with letters of support, stake claim and request the LG to fix the date of swearing-in. But I would like it to happen as soon as possible because we have been without an elected government since 2018. Now the time has come for us to get back to work. The National Conference leader reaffirmed his party’s commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that his political stand remains unchanged.
He admitted that it would be unrealistic to get Article 370 back from those who scrapped it. He termed it “foolishness” and a betrayal of the people. He said our political stand will not change. We never said that we will remain silent on the issue of Article 370 or that it is no longer an issue for us. But we are not willing to fool people. I have always said that it is foolish to expect to get it back from those who scrapped Article 370. It is like cheating the people. But we will keep the issue alive. We hope that one day the government will change, the Prime Minister will change and there will be a government with which we will be able to talk on this issue and achieve something for Jammu and Kashmir.
In the results declared on Tuesday, JKNC won 42 seats and led the alliance to victory. Congress could win only six seats. Voting was held on 90 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. BJP also performed brilliantly by winning 29 seats. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP won three seats, while Sajjad Gani Lone’s People’s Conference and Aam Aadmi Party won one seat each. CPI(M) also won one seat. Independents won seven seats. BJP got 25.64 percent votes, followed by National Conference with 23.43 percent and Congress with 11.97 percent votes. This was the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Article 370.
