Srinagar: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that he may not contest assembly elections as and when they are held but won't quit politics either.
In an exclusive interview to ETV Bharat after the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and his party National Conference won the first-ever District Development Council elections with a good number of seats, Omar said that the result is a verdict of Jammu and Kashmir people against the BJP government's decision of Article 370 abrogation and division of the state into two Union Territories.
When asked whether he would like to become the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and contest assembly elections after implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, Omar said that he has no intention of contesting the assembly elections.
"As of now, I have no intention to contest assembly elections. I am not linking my intention with the abrogation of Article 370 or downgrading of statehood, but I have no words to explain the kind of betrayal I have faced. Having said that, I won't quit politics either as I have to fight for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir; work for strengthening the National Conference. I will continue to work for the progress and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir."
Omar Abdullah said that the BJP is now scared after the PAGD's show in the DDC elections and that the party will not hold the assembly elections in the near future.
Omar said that the results of DDC elections are encouraging for the PAGD and particularly for the NC.
READ: DDC election: PDP leader Waheed Para wins in Pulwama
"Post-august 5, the BJP would say that it is the end of the NC and Abdullah's won't last a few months. But the DDC election results are an eye-opener for them. People of Jammu and Kashmir have given an answer to the BJP. These results are encouraging for us and explain to us that we are on the right path."
To a question that the BJP is saying that they have a major vote share in the DDC polls which implies the defeat of Gupkar Alliance, the former chief minister said the vote share narrative is promoted by only those who are defeated in the election.
"If the BJP had taken less vote share but more seats they would have said that the People's Alliance stands defeated. The BJP is finding alibis to propagate among people that they have won the polls. BJP's vote share is more because they contested on more seats than us. Also, Kashmir valley voted less than Jammu region. But if we look at the previous four elections, their vote share is declining which means that those voters have not voted for the BJP in DDC elections who voted for them in the previous elections, meaning that people have rejected their August 5 decision. And now they should stop the propaganda that people of Jammu and Kashmir are happy with the August 5 decision," he said.
On the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration being called 'Gupkar Gang' by the BJP, he said that when elected members and former chief ministers are called such names, it speaks about how "indisciplined" the BJP leaders are.
Omar said that the PAGD is in touch with Congress and independent winning candidates to cobble up support and form as many DDCs as they can.
"When the BJP is trying to get the support of independent candidates, why can't we. We are talking to Congress and independents to form as many DDCs as we can," he said.
The PAGD has won 110 seats including NC's 67, PDP 37, PC 8, CPIM 5 and JKPM 3. Independents won 50 seats while BJP took 75 seats.
The PAGD, if Congress and Independents support them, will form DDCs in 12 districts, while BJP as of now has a majority in only four Jammu region districts.
On the low-key campaigning by PAGD in the DDC, Omar said that they took the decision so as not to make the election between BJP and party leaders. "We decided to not campaign so as to give space to our workers to connect with PAGD partners and let voters speak for themselves during elections. It worked well and voters have given a verdict against BJP and their decision of August 5," he said.
READ: PDP leaders detained ahead of DDC results in J-K
Responding to BJP's allegation that Mehbooba Mufti was taking the support of the PAGD because of her party's situation, Omar Abdullah said that the PDP chief was part of the Gupkar alliance much before some rebel members left her and that it was not right to make such statements.
Slamming the BJP, the NC leader said that the saffron party had written off the NC but the DDC results showed that people of Jammu and Kashmir are with us.
