Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah today said seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress has been finalised for a majority of Assembly seats across Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar, who was accompanying party’s candidate from D H Pora constituency Sakina Itoo for filing of nomination, told reporters that discussions over the rest of the seats were going on and the alliance partners will soon finalise the seat-sharing arrangement.
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The NC vice president said that the consensus has been reached to a large extent and discussion on a few seats is on. I can tell you that we have reached a consensus on the maximum seats out of the 90.
On a few seats, we are adamant and, on some others, the local leaders of the Congress are adamant. There will be meetings today as well and we will try to sort out the rest of the seats so as to announce our candidates,” he added.
Asked when the party would announce its candidates for the rest of the seats going to polls in the first phase, Omar said there is no hurry.
“Which party has announced its candidates so far? A party has cleverly named people as constituency in-charges, our constituency in-charges have been working for the last 10 years. So, why are you after our lists, ask them. Our list will have to be out in any case by August 27,” he said. Click here to watch video
“We started today with our first candidate filing nomination papers. We are confident she will win big in the Noorabad constituency. As they say, well begun is half done? We have made a strong start, and it will positively impact other constituencies as well,” he added.
When asked whether they would support the CPIM in Kulgam, Omar said that there has not been a final decision yet.
“Once the final list is prepared and approved by the NC president, Farooq Abdullah, everything will be clear. It is too early to discuss which seats will be allocated to whom or which will be left to other parties. I cannot comment on that for now,” he said.
On other political parties fielding proxy candidates, the NC vice president said that so far, the NC has not seen any such candidates on the ground. “We are confident in the success of Sakina Itoo and all candidates running under the National Conference symbol. We have presented our manifesto, and I believe no other party can offer a better one. I trust the people of Jammu and Kashmir will choose the NC to serve them,” he added.
The NC and Congress yesterday announced a pre-poll alliance for the assembly elections in J&K, which is going to polls for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
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