Omar Abdullah Urges Rahul Gandhi to Focus on Jammu During Elections
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 25: Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference, has urged Rahul Gandhi to shift his election campaign focus from Kashmir to Jammu. Abdullah emphasized that the Congress party, which is in alliance with the National Conference, should prioritize Jammu where it holds the majority of seats.
Abdullah stated, “I hope after Rahul is done campaigning in one or two seats in Kashmir, he focuses in Jammu. Ultimately what the Congress does in Kashmir is not important. What the Congress does in Jammu is important.” He pointed out that the Congress has not done enough campaigning in the plains of Jammu, despite being allocated the lion’s share of seats there.
The Congress party is contesting 32 seats, while the National Conference is vying for 51 of the 90 Assembly seats. Omar Abdullah is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam assembly seats, facing PDP’s Bashir Ahmed Mir and Aga Muntazir Mehdi respectively.
Abdullah expressed optimism about voter turnout, saying, “We have been waiting for ten years. The first phase went well, we expect a good turnout from the second phase also, the enthusiasm has been heartening, hope it turns out into voter turnout also.”
Regarding the Indian Government’s invitation to foreign diplomats to witness the elections, Abdullah commented, “I don’t know why foreigners need to check elections. When they comment on certain things, the Indian government says it is an internal matter. Now these elections are an internal matter.”
He criticized the Government of India, stating that the participation in the elections is despite the government’s actions, which he described as humiliating and harassing the people.
Abdullah also targeted the PDP, suggesting that the party would be lucky to win even in Bijbehara, a small town in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. He dismissed allegations of bogus voting in Ganderbal, attributing the high turnout in his favor to the people’s support.
Voting for the second phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir began on Wednesday morning, with over 25 lakh eligible voters deciding the fate of 239 candidates across 26 constituencies in six districts. Prominent candidates include Omar Abdullah, BJP chief Ravinder Raina, and Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra. The final phase of polls will be held on October 1, with vote counting on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
Omar Abdullah -: Omar Abdullah is a politician in India. He is the Vice President of the National Conference, a political party in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a leader of the Indian National Congress, a major political party in India. He is known for his role in Indian politics and is part of the Gandhi family.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the oldest and most prominent parties in the region.
Jammu -: Jammu is a region in the northern part of India. It is part of the larger area known as Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmir -: Kashmir is another region in the northern part of India, known for its beautiful landscapes and complex political situation.
Congress -: The Congress, or Indian National Congress, is one of the two major political parties in India. It has a long history and has been in power many times since India’s independence.
foreign diplomats -: Foreign diplomats are representatives from other countries who work in India to maintain good relations and discuss important matters between their countries and India.
Government of India -: The Government of India is the central government that runs the country. It makes laws, policies, and decisions for the entire nation.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are elections held to choose representatives for the legislative assembly of a state in India. These representatives make laws and decisions for their state.
25 lakh -: 25 lakh means 2.5 million. In India, ‘lakh’ is a term used to represent 100,000.
