Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president and Member Parliament, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said that NC vice-president Omar Abdullah would not contest Assembly elections till J&K’s statehood is restored.
Farooq Abdullah, while talking to reporters, said the list of constituency heads that has been prepared was to reach out to the people and strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
On being asked about whether Omar Abdullah would contest Assembly elections, senior Abdullah said Omar has already clarified that he will not contest elections till statehood of J&K is restored.
He said that People’s Alliance for Gupkar declaration (PAGD) will continue to remain and the list of constituency heads prepared by the party was no indication that NC will contest polls alone.
Asked about the appointment of constituency incharges by NC on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha member said it was necessary that party workers become active.
“It was important that we appoint constituency incharges who will go among the people and look at their problems so that the same can be addressed,” he added.
Farooq Abdullah dismissed suggestions that the constituency incharges named by NC would get the party mandate for Assembly elections.
“People are making up a lot of things. If we start to respond to each and everything, how can we function then? No one is the MLA candidate. We will have talks about coalitions and also about PAGD,” he said.
The former chief minister said the elections in Jammu and Kashmir were still some time away.
“There is time in the conduct of elections. What combinations emerge will be seen at that time only,” he said.
On being asked about ST status for the Pahari community, Abdullah said that he himself stood for ST status for the community.
