Says NC to Contest All Four Rajya Sabha Seats Independently
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar:DD, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections will serve as a clear reflection of which political parties and legislators align with the BJP and who remain in true opposition.
Speaking to reporters, CM Omar as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC said the National Conference (NC) had initially reserved one seat for the Congress, but the party chose not to contest.
“We had kept one seat for Congress. They decided not to field a candidate. We believed they were best positioned to win that fourth seat, but they felt otherwise,” Omar said.
He added that the NC would now contest all four seats independently. “We will field four candidates on our own. This election will reveal who stands with the BJP and who stands against it,” he remarked. Omar cautioned that any MLA who abstains or sides with the BJP would be publicly known. “BJP has 28 MLAs. Anyone who supports or abstains in their favour will be exposed before the people,” he said.
Refuting the BJP’s claim that Dr. Farooq Abdullah was denied a mandate, Omar said, “Who says Dr. Farooq was not given the mandate? He himself chose to step aside. No one in the party stopped him.” He further clarified that Dr. Farooq would not contest from Budgam either, saying, “If he didn’t wish to contest a Rajya Sabha seat, he surely won’t take on an Assembly campaign.”
Calling Dr. Farooq the tallest leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar described him as the guiding light of the NC whose role would remain vital. He also dismissed BJP’s assertions of winning multiple seats. “BJP cannot win even one seat without horse trading. They need 30 votes for the fourth seat but have only 28,” he said, alleging that any claim of victory beyond that would come through “money power, muscle power, or agencies.”
On the Budgam bypoll, Omar said no election should be taken lightly. “We will put our best foot forward in Budgam and leave the decision to the wisdom of the people,” he added. —(KNC)
