Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 16: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to advance Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the Central rule will end in the Union Territory.According to the dates announced by the EC, starting from September 18, the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases. The second phase will be held on September 25 and the third and final phase on October 1.
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Results for the Assembly polls in both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir will be announced on October 4.
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“Today, I thank God that they are deciding it. Earlier, people were saying that they would decide it between the 20th and 25th. I am happy that they have preponed it (sic),” Abdullah said here.
He further said the country celebrated India’s Independence on Thursday, and on Friday they are hopeful of getting rid of the Central Government’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to a question about the party’s readiness for the elections, he said, “We are ready for the polls. When we were ready for the Parliamentary elections, the party had also requested them to hold the elections in Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously with the Parliamentary elections, as they did in some states. However, they did not hold the elections then.”
“There should be a level playing field for everyone. The BJP is in power at the Centre and has all types of security compared to the other parties.
“This should not happen. The Election Commission should ensure fairness as we want a level playing field,” he said.
Asked whether the National Conference will contest the election alone in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said, “As of now, we have decided so. We will see what the party decides further.
“Although I am the president of the party, in a democracy, we listen to everyone. We will have a thorough debate and then decide,” he added.
Asked if he will contest the election, Abdullah said, “Yes, I will contest. I am young. I have just returned after visiting the Chenab Valley. Before that, I visited Poonch. I am not going to step back.”
Meanwhile, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah today welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement of a three phased Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir and said it was better late than never.
“Some time back, the ECI announced the schedule for Assembly elections in J-K. People of J-K were waiting for this day for a long time. It is better late than never,” Abdullah told reporters in Sringar.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said it is perhaps for the first time after the 1987-88 polls, that the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in a short time and in just few phases.
“It obviously will be a new experiment for the political parties. But as far as our party is concerned, the NC was prepared for this day and will soon start the electioneering,” he added.
Abdullah said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has made a thrust on conducting free and fair polls in Jammu and Kashmir and called on the poll body to take notice of the massive transfers in the police and civil administration in the Union Territory in the last 24 hours.
“We have doubts that this Government is helping the BJP and its B, C and D teams. The ECI should immediately take notice and examine them and stop those transfers which are outside their guidelines,” he said.
The National Conference (NC) vice-president said it is obvious that rather than providing a level playing field, “you are trying to create an unbalanced playing field”.
Asked whether he would contest the Assembly polls, Abdullah, who has for long maintained that he will not contest the Assembly elections as long as Jammu and Kashmir continues to be a Union Territory, said he will consult his father and NC president Farooq Abdullah and his party colleagues on that.
“As far as my contesting the polls in concerned, even now I do not want to contest the polls, but the truth is that there is a huge pressure on me from the party. I will discuss this with my party colleagues and a decision will be taken in a day or two,” he said.
Abdullah said his father, who is now aged and his health is also not well, has announced that if “I do not contest, then he will be forced to”.
“This has become a problem for me. I will talk to him and my colleagues and a decision will be taken in a few days,” he added.
Responding to a question on an alliance with the Congress, Abdullah said the NC is having discussions with the grand old party.
“Some days back, a few senior leaders of the Congress from Delhi came here and I had a round of discussions with them on the alliance. However, unfortunately, they had come here without taking the instructions from their party high command,” said Abdullah.
“We couldn’t take that dialogue forward. If the Congress has any concrete suggestions or ideas by virtue of which we can have an understanding, then we are ready to talk to them. Two days back, Farooq Abdullah also talked to some senior Congress leaders over phone to pave the way for talks. The election is now upon us and we do not have much time. We will see what can be done,” he added.
Asked whether the NC will form an alliance with any other party, he said those parties who have contested the polls against the NC and did not get tired of abusing them, “an alliance with them will perhaps be difficult”.
“Rather than improving the relations with us, they (referring to PDP) deteriorated it further. But we will see how the situation evolves. We do not have much time,” he added.
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