“It would be party’s decision”: Omar Abdullah on whether he will contest elections this time

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 30 (ANI): National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on Saturday that it would be the party’s decision whether he would contest the elections this time or not.

“There are a lot of rumours during the election time. Whether or not will I fight the elections or from where I will fight the elections, it would be the party’s decision, not mine. I cannot say anything about it,” he said.

Ahead of the INDIA bloc’s ‘Maharally’ at Ram Leela Maidan tomorrow, Omar said that from his party, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah will participate.

“The INDIA Bloc is going to organise a program at the Ram Lila Maidan in Delhi tomorrow. From the National Conference, leader Farooq Abdullah will participate in it,” he said.

Notably, two Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Trinamool Congress, including Derek O’Brien and Sagarika Ghose, will join the INDIA alliance rally on March 31 at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, said TMC leader Shashi Panja.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai on Friday announced that several prominent leaders from the INDIA alliance will participate in a rally at Ramlila Maidan on March 31 in support of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following his recent arrest.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Bhagwant Mann, Champai Soren, Tejashwi Yadav, and Sitaram Yechury and many more leaders have been confirmed to join the rally, Rai said.

On being asked about when his party will release the candidate list for the Lok Sabha polls, Omar Abdullah said that they will announce it as per their wish and nobody except Sajjad Lone has declared candidates in the Union Territory.

“Who else has announced the candidates except for Sajjad Lone? I have not heard the name of any candidate for the three seats of Kashmir. Everyone is asking about the candidates for the National Conference as if everyone is waiting for us only. We will announce (the candidates) when we wish. It is possible that the announcement would be made after the notification or at the last date of nomination. It is our wish,” the National Conference leader said.

The Lok Sabha polls in the Union Territory will be held in the first five phases on April 19 (Udhampur), April 26 (Jammu), May 7 (Anantnag-Rajouri), May 13 (Srinagar) and May 20 (Baramulla).

The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.