Will Dr Farooq or Omar contest assembly polls?

Srinagar, Aug 16: Will National Conference (NC) President Dr Farooq Abdullah or party Vice President Omar Abdullah contest the assembly elections?

If one goes by the media interaction of Dr Farooq Abdullah in Jammu region today then he will himself contest. “I will myself contest the assembly elections. And when the statehood is restored, I will resign and Omar sahab will take over,” he said.

Omar Abdullah during his media interaction here said,” I do not want to contest the assembly polls. I am under pressure from party colleagues to fight the elections. Even Dr Farooq Abdullah sahab says that if I will not contest then he will himself contest. Sometimes Dr Farooq sahab is not keeping good health. I will consult my party colleagues and take a decision with some days,” he added.

Regarding electoral alliance with Congress, Omar said though very little time has been left for the elections but option for alliance is open with that party. “Some days back some Congress leaders met me for alliance. But later I came to know that they had not the mandate of their party high command to talk on the issue. So the talks were discontinued. But if Congress has something concrete to say we are ready for talks. But as I said the time is short,” he said.

The NC Vice President ruled out any alliance with the parties, who fought recent Lok Sabha polls against his party. “These parties abused us in parliamentary polls but made no attempt later to reconcile. Under these circumstances the alliance with those parties is ruled out,” he said.

Meanwhile Dr Farooq Abdullah said that he himself is against any poll alliance. “Not Omar sahab, but I am against any poll alliance. I want NC to contest on its own. But it is ultimately the party which has to take a decision. I am going back to Srinagar, where the party is scheduled to meet and take a decision on the issue,” he said.