Omar Abdullah Accuses United Opposition of Targeting NC for Its Anti-BJP Stand
Budgam (Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday alleged that the entire opposition had united against the National Conference (NC) because of its consistent stance against the BJP.
Campaigning for the NC candidate Agha Mehmood during a roadshow in Budgam, Abdullah said his government had been “occasionally punished” for refusing to align with the BJP. He described the upcoming November 11 bypoll as a contest between the NC and a coalition of opposition forces determined to defeat his party.
Launching a sharp attack on the PDP, Abdullah reminded voters of the 2014 Assembly elections when the PDP, despite seeking votes to keep the BJP out, ultimately formed a coalition government with it.
“The same people who asked you to vote against the BJP in 2014 brought them to power after the polls and began destroying Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Abdullah asserted that unlike the PDP, the NC had honoured its 2024 election pledge to keep the BJP out of power by refusing any post-poll alliance.
“This is the difference between the PDP and the NC,” he said. “They sought votes to stop the BJP and later joined them. We did the same but stayed true to our word.”
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Abdullah said the administration had fulfilled its pre-poll promise of seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status by passing a resolution in the first Assembly session and handing it over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Responding to questions about the absence of party MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi from the campaign, Abdullah said the NC did not compel anyone to participate.
“Those who wish to campaign do so out of their own will. I don’t force anyone. But when we win, those who stayed away cannot share in our joy,” he said.
Mehdi, who has represented the Shia-majority seat thrice, has recently been critical of the party’s functioning.
Abdullah also accused the PDP of indirectly helping the BJP by not fielding a candidate in the Nagrota bypoll.
“Ask them why they don’t have a candidate there. If they are truly against the BJP, why leave the field open? Only NC and BJP candidates are contesting in Nagrota,” he said.
Clarifying his decision to vacate the Budgam seat after winning from Ganderbal, Abdullah said he had initially opposed contesting from two constituencies. “This is not the right time to share the full story, but one day I will,” he added.
The chief minister also spoke about local development projects, announcing plans for a new university in Budgam by 2025, an international-level cricket ground, and a cricket academy in collaboration with the BCCI.
Addressing the controversy over electricity smart meters, Abdullah defended the decision as essential to fulfilling the NC’s promise of providing free electricity to households consuming less than 200 units.
“We can’t keep that promise without meters. Consumption must be tracked. Install the meters, and we’ll make electricity free below the 200-unit limit,” he told the gathering.
