Srinagar, Oct 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah exuded confidence on Wednesday that the National Conference (NC) is poised to secure all four seats in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on October 24. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a strategy meeting with NC legislators and supporting independents, he also urged Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma to refrain from making baseless statements.
Abdullah said the meeting was convened ahead of the autumn Assembly session to chart a clear strategy for the elections. “This session is different from others as Rajya Sabha elections are underway, and a plan was being prepared to secure victory in all seats,” he noted.
He expressed gratitude to CPI(M) MLA Muhammad Yosuf Tarigami and other independent legislators for attending, adding, “With the enthusiasm and commitment I see among NC MLAs and our allies, I am hopeful that we will win all four Rajya Sabha seats.”
Addressing Congress’s absence from the meeting, the Chief Minister explained that the party held its own internal legislature session. “Congress has always maintained that they will not allow the BJP to emerge victorious. They follow their own procedures and await directions from their high command, while we take decisions locally,” he said. He clarified that the Congress high command allowed NC to field its candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat despite Congress being ready to contest bypolls.
On the matter of PDP support, Abdullah said, “Our leader, Shami Oberoi, met PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti today to request her party’s support for our candidate. Earlier, Dr. Farooq Abdullah had also spoken with her. Although no public announcement has been made, they have assured us a decision will follow after internal consultations.”
Responding to claims made by LoP Sunil Sharma regarding alleged offers to form a government with the BJP, Abdullah firmly said, “We have not made any such offer. We do not hide anything. The LoP must stop issuing these baseless statements.”
The NC’s focused strategy sessions ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls underline its determination to consolidate support within the Assembly and secure all four seats, even as uncertainties remain regarding Congress and PDP positions.
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