NC to go solo in Lok Sabha polls: Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar, Feb 15: Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah Thursday said that his party would independently contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the possible assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah made this announcement in Srinagar.

“Elections will happen, and I believe both assembly and Parliament elections will be held together. Regarding seat sharing, I want to clarify that NC will contest elections independently. There is no ambiguity about it,” he said.

The NC had been part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) grouping, which also includes the Congress, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress, DMK, and Left parties, among others.

Both AAP and Trinamool Congress have announced plans to contest separately in Punjab and West Bengal.

This decision also signifies the end of the People’s Alliance on Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), formed before the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The regional grouping had previously indicated its intention to contest elections jointly.

While there has been no announcement regarding the holding of Assembly elections in J&K, the parliamentary elections are scheduled.

This would mark the first major democratic exercise in the region since the revocation of its special status in August 2019.

Abdullah welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to J&K saying, “The prime minister's visit is a positive development. He is expected to announce some projects.”

Regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on electoral bonds, Abdullah said: “It is essential that the government accepts this verdict, and political parties disclose the amount and sources of their funding. People should know the source of financial power. I hope this happens before the general election.”

About the Enforcement Directorate’s summons in the alleged scam in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), Abdullah criticised the agency saying: “I will appear before the ED. I am not afraid. If they think they can eliminate NC by imprisoning Farooq Abdullah, they are mistaken because NC is a movement.”

Abdullah urged the Centre to find a resolution to the farmers’ issues.

“When the farm bills were introduced, the Opposition demanded a select committee to address their shortcomings. However, the bills were passed with a brute majority. As a result, nearly 750 farmers lost their lives. The bills were withdrawn just before the UP elections. Now, with general elections approaching, farmers are protesting again. I pray that the government acts sensibly, and no innocent farmers lose their lives,” he said.

Regarding the situation in Pakistan, Abdullah stressed the need for a stable Pakistan for a stable India, saying, “An unstable Pakistan is not in our best interests.”

He also condemned the recent killing of two labourers from Punjab by terrorists in Kashmir.

“It is unfortunate that innocent people who have no involvement in politics are being killed. I condemn these killings,” Abdullah said.

He also criticised the government for introducing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India, claiming they could be manipulated.

“EVMs can be tampered with. When EVMs were introduced in J&K, we were in government. Muhammad Shafi (Uri) asked if there was a possibility of manipulation. Initially, the officer was silent, but when questioned again, he admitted it could be done. The government should not have introduced these machines if they could undermine people's rights. The election results would have been delayed by two months, but what harm would that have caused?”