Omar Abdullah Discusses Alliance with Congress and Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 6: Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the National Conference, spoke about his party’s decision to form an alliance with Congress for the upcoming assembly polls. He mentioned that the National Conference had to give up some seats to make the alliance work, emphasizing that such compromises are necessary in seat-sharing agreements.
Omar Abdullah criticized the BJP for creating a false narrative that Article 370 was only loved by Kashmiris and hated by residents of Jammu. He pointed out that the BJP’s vote share in Jammu decreased in the 2024 elections compared to 2019, suggesting that the issue of Article 370 was not as divisive as portrayed.
He also expressed his intention to reverse the decision to end the 149-year-old Darbar move tradition if the alliance comes to power. The Darbar move, which involved shifting offices between Srinagar and Jammu, was ended in 2021 by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to save costs. Omar Abdullah argued that this decision had negatively impacted Jammu’s economy.
Additionally, he called for stronger domicile laws in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the current laws are weaker than those in neighboring Himachal Pradesh. He emphasized the need for locals to have the first right over their land and resources.
When asked about the potential Chief Minister if the NC-Congress alliance wins, Omar Abdullah declined to speculate, citing past experiences. He also mentioned that his campaign would focus on local issues, while Rahul Gandhi would address national concerns.
The assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with votes being counted on October 8. The National Conference will contest 51 of the 90 seats, while Congress will contest 32, with some seats left for smaller parties.
Doubts Revealed
Omar Abdullah -: Omar Abdullah is a politician in India. He was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, which means he was the head of the government in that region.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is like the head of a state government in India. They are responsible for running the state and making important decisions.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It has its own special status and has been a topic of many political discussions.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. They work to represent the people of that region and have their own ideas and plans for the area.
Congress -: Congress, or the Indian National Congress, is one of the major political parties in India. They have been around for a long time and have had many leaders who became Prime Ministers of India.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is another major political party in India and is currently the ruling party at the national level.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a special law in the Indian Constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir some special rights and autonomy. It was removed in 2019, which has been a big topic in Indian politics.
Darbar move -: The Darbar move is a practice in Jammu and Kashmir where the government offices move between two cities, Srinagar and Jammu, every six months. This is done to make sure both regions get equal attention.
Domicile laws -: Domicile laws are rules that decide who is considered a resident of a particular place. These laws can affect who can get jobs, buy property, or get other benefits in that area.
Assembly polls -: Assembly polls are elections where people vote to choose their representatives in the state government. These representatives then make laws and decisions for the state.
Three phases -: When elections are held in phases, it means that voting happens on different days in different areas. This helps manage the process better and ensures everything runs smoothly.
Votes counted -: After people vote in an election, the votes are counted to see who won. The results tell us which candidates and parties will be in charge.