Jammu Tawi, Jan 17: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday challenged the central government to hold elections in Jammu Kashmir along with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls if it was serious about its idea of ‘one nation, one election'.
He said this government, which talks so much about a simultaneous elections in the country, is unable to put its money where its mouth is, even in one state much less than the entire nation.
“If the government is serious about ‘one nation, one election', I hope that they will put their money where their mouth is and show us that it is possible by doing it first in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have Parliament elections in a few months. Let us have assembly elections at the same time and then see,” Abdullah told reporters here.
The former J-K chief minister questioned the government's commitment to the unified election idea.
“If you cannot have assembly election (in Jammu and Kashmir) together with Parliament now, how do you imagine that you will ever have (nationwide) assembly elections together with Parliament elections, when states like UP, Bihar and others, which require a significant presence of security forces, will also go to the polls simultaneously,” he said.
Abdullah expressed confidence that the INDI Alliance will get a resounding mandate in J-K.
“When the mandate is delivered, it will be a resounding mandate for one-party rule. So no post-poll alliance will exist. We do not believe in post-poll alliance,” he said in reply to a question about the possibility of going with any other party in case of a fractured mandate in the assembly elections.
Regarding seat distribution, Abdullah dismissed the talk of conflicts within the alliance.
“No talks have been held with the Congress on seat sharing. Our efforts should be to win all six seats and they should remain with the INDI Alliance.
“Several people want to contest… Let us first talk to them. Three seats are with the INDIA alliance, there is no need to discuss them but the talks will be held on how to win the rest of the three seats currently held by BJP,” he said.
Responding to questions about the INDI Alliance's prime ministerial face, Abdullah emphasised that no discussion is being held on the issue as of now.
Abdullah questioned the BJP's decade-long rule and said resorting to religious appeals for electoral victories indicates a failure of their governance.
“If, after remaining in power for ten years, BJP will have to go back to religion to win elections, don't you see their government has failed?
“If after ten years of rule, this is what they wanted to show to the people, and there is nothing beyond this, I will hope BJP needs to be questioned on this,” he said.
On top Congress leaders not attending the Ram temple consecration, Abdullah said, “Congress can better answer it. We have not received any invite. We are not going.”
About participating in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Abdullah said he and his father Farooq Abdullah have received an invitation from Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. “Where it is feasible, we will take part in it,” he said.
