BJP trying to manipulate polls via Independents: Omar Abdullah
National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah, who filed his nomination from Ganderbal constituency in central Kashmir on Wednesday, accused the BJP of using independent candidates to manipulate the assembly elections.
Abdullah, while appealing to the electorate of Ganderbal, removed his skull cap, and urged them to uphold the dignity of his cap.
“BJP is making a concerted effort to manipulate this election through independent candidates. They want as many independent candidates as possible to get elected from J&K as they aim to form the government with their help later,” said Abdullah. After abrogation of Article 370 and 35 (A) in August 2019, Abdullah along with others were jailed and when he was released in September 2020, he had maintained till recently that he will not fight elections in a Union Territory. He had likened the position of a chief minister in the UT to that of a municipality commissioner of an extremely weak municipality. However, soon after the elections were announced, NC decided to field Abdullah as its star candidate.
He said the J&K electorate will reject BJP’s policy and none of their conspiracies will be successful in the upcoming three-phase elections starting September 18. “People’s vote will speak and BJP’s attempts to manipulate the outcome of the elections will fail,” said Abdullah. “I request the people of Ganderbal to just give me one chance to serve you. The dignity and honour of my cap is in the hands of the people of Ganderbal,” said Abdullah.
Abdullah faces his former
