Not considering post-poll alliance situation: Omar

Jammu, Jan 17: National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday dared the government to walk its talk about its much-hyped plank ‘one nation, one election’ by holding parliamentary and assembly elections together in 2024.

The government could show its seriousness for it (One nation, one election) by making it possible first in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Asserting that he did not foresee any fractured mandate, Omar said that there would be a resounding mandate for one-party rule and hence he was not “even considering a post-poll alliance situation.”

He was responding to media queries after addressing a day-long Gujjar-Bakarwal conference at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Jammu

“It is absolutely impossible to give a categorical answer to a question which has so many hypothetical elements to it. First you are assuming an assembly election. This government that talks so much about ‘One nation, one election’ is unable to put its money where its mouth is - even with one state, much less the entire nation,” Omar said, in response to a question pertaining to the possibility of post-poll alliance in case of fractured mandate after the assembly polls in J&K.

“If you cannot have an election of J&K assembly together with the Parliament now, how do you ever imagine that you would be able to have an assembly and parliament election at the same time, when the states like UP, Bihar and others which require so much presence of security force, when they will also go to the polls at the same time,” he questioned.

“So, this government, if it is serious about ‘One nation, one election’, I hope they will put their money where their mouth is and show us that it is possible by doing it first in Jammu and Kashmir. We have parliamentary elections in a few months. Let’s have an assembly election at the same time and then see. That is one part of the hypothetical question. Secondly, you’ve assumed that there will be a fractured mandate. I don’t believe that to be the case. I believe that when the mandate is delivered, it will be a resounding mandate for one-party rule and therefore the need for any sort of post-poll alliance will simply not exist,” the former Chief Minister said.

“That is what I believe. Given that, I believe that we are not even considering a post-poll alliance situation and that is as far as I’ve to say,” he said.

ON RETURN ON KP MIGRANTS

In response to a question about the return of KP migrants, he described their “exodus anniversary” as a “dark day” and hoped that the conditions conducive for their return would be created and they would be able to return on their own (free will). "Kashmir is incomplete without them, NC always believed," he said.

“However, the truth is that the process of return has suffered a setback rather than being taken forward, in the past few years (of present regime), after the spread of militancy and its reemergence in the areas like Rajouri and Poonch, from where it was cleared,” Omar said.

NO CONFLICTS IN I.N.D.I.A

He rubbished the talks about conflicts within I.N.D.I. Alliance and said that talks would be held to ensure win of alliance on three seats which were with BJP at present. “So far, no seat-sharing talks have been held with Congress

Taking a dig at BJP, Omar said that if the party, after its 10-year rule, had to rely on religious slogans to ensure win in the election, it would demonstrate the failure of its government. NC vice president said that the party leadership received an invite from Congress to join its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and they (Farooq and Omar) would participate wherever feasible.