He told PTI that he will contest the elections, while his son, Omar Abdullah, has chosen to abstain from contesting until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is restored.
Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised as a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Farooq Abdullah welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to advance the polls and said, “I thank God for this decision. Earlier, there was speculation that the dates would be fixed between 20th and 25th, so I am glad that they have been advanced.” The elections will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results of the polls will be announced on October 4.
With the announcement of the elections, the North Carolina chief expressed hope that central government would end in the Union Territory.
Farooq Abdullah stressed that the National Council was always prepared for the assembly elections and said, “We were prepared for the parliamentary elections and had requested that the assembly elections be held simultaneously, but that did not happen.” He expressed optimism about a high voter turnout in the assembly elections. “People will come out in large numbers to participate in the elections,” the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said.
Farooq Abdullah called for a level playing field for all political parties in the region and said the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre, had “disproportionate advantages”.
“The BJP is in power at the centre and has access to all kinds of security compared to other parties. The Election Commission must ensure fairness,” he said.
Asked if the NC would contest the elections independently, he said, “As of now, we have already decided. However, we will have thorough discussions within the party before taking a final decision.” He also urged citizens to prepare for the upcoming panchayat, urban area and municipal elections, stressing the importance of establishing a democratic framework.
On the contentious issue of statehood, Farooq Abdullah regretted the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir to the status of Union Territory and said, “I am sorry and ashamed of it.”
He challenged the BJP leadership by asking how they would feel if their own states were similarly downgraded.
As for security concerns, he said that while problems have persisted since the 1990s, he believes the current situation has improved compared to the past. “Today, the situation is not as bad. It’s better now,” the North Carolina chief said.
Responding to the BJP’s claims of forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir, he quipped, “May God hear them. They got over 400 seats in the parliamentary elections, but what did they achieve? If the Election Commission had not been there, they would not have got over 140 seats.” As the NC gears up for the assembly elections, Farooq Abdullah’s leadership will be instrumental in shaping the party’s strategy and its response to the current political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
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