Mocking at Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) exit from the poll arena in Kashmir Valley, former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah Saturday alleged the BJP claimed many things in Kashmir but fled from contesting the polls in the valley.
Omar said it is evident the BJP has not been able to win people’s hearts after the abrogation of Article 370.
Omar said, “The importance of this election is that it is the first time after August 2019 that the Lok Sabha elections are being held here. Also, in 2019, the BJP fielded its candidates on all the seats (in the valley). But this time the (Union) Home Minister (Amit Shah) said that we would first win the hearts of the people and then field the candidates.
Interacting with the media in the Rajpora area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district Omar said the ruling party may not be directly contesting the parliamentary polls in the valley it was still supporting parties like the Apni party and People's Conference from behind on ground zero.
Posing some tough questions Omar asked, "Why did they (BJP) leave the field? What was their helplessness? J&K BJP Chief Ravinder Raina was preparing to contest the polls from the south Kashmir seat, but why did he not contest? What compulsion did they have that they had to push other parties be it 'cricket bat' or 'apple', Abdullah said, adding "These parties were working for the BJP".
Omar maintained,"The BJP is in the field contesting elections, but the only difference is they do not have their party symbol, they are contesting on 'cricket bat' (Apni Party's symbol) and 'apple' (PC's symbol)... We are well aware who the BJP supports here, but they stand no chance of winning," he added. Omar hoped the NC would win all the three seats."
In Jammu, J&K BJP Chief Ravinder Raina told reporters that the BJP enjoys a massive support base in Kashmir valley as it has built a network of party workers in recent years.
In response to a question about the BJP's claims of the NDA crossing the 400-mark, Abdullah said everything would be clear after the results. The Ladakh seat is slipping away from their hands, he claimed."After the polling yesterday, it seems they will not be able to save the Udhampur seat. Let us see what will happen on the Jammu seat as well," he said.
Asked about BJP's J-K president Ravindra Raina claiming that the party will win both the seats in Jammu, Abdullah said, "Let me remind Raina that the elections have not taken place on the Jammu seat yet and we do not even know how many votes will be polled there. Let the voting take place first, then the BJP should claim its victory. As of now, we feel their Udhampur seat is in danger," he said.
Talking about the straight contest between the NC and PDP on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat Omar said it was "unfortunate" that his party was contesting elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency against a friend who turned "greedy" for a Lok Sabha seat.
Apparently Omar was referring to the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti contesting the polls from the seat in south Kashmir. The NC has fielded its senior Gujjar leader Mian Altaf from the seat.
