Srinagar: A day ahead of the counting of votes for the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said his party is open to alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The NC chief also criticised the move to give powers to the Lieutenant Governor for nominating members to the five reserved seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
When asked if the National Conference-Congress alliance will take support from the PDP if need be, Abdullah said "Why not?", reported PTI.
“How does it matter? If we all work for the same thing, for improvement in the conditions of the people of the state, removing unemployment, removing all the distresses that have occurred in the last 10 years. First thing we should do is restore the freedom of the press. We should have the right to say what is true and what is not true. We can be rivals in elections but I have no objections and I am sure Congress will have no objections," he added.
Abdullah further stated that he is not averse to taking the support of the independents. “I will not go to beg before them. If they feel they can strengthen the state, most welcome. It should be their initiative. They should want to do good for the people," the former Jammu and Kashmir CM on taking support of Independents.
Notably, Abdullah ruled himself out of the CM’s post. “The statehood should be restored, full statehood, where the government has the power to do things. I will not be the CM. Let this one thing be clear. I have done my chief minister's job. My problem will be how we make a strong government and how we fulfil the agenda that we have put before the people,” he said as quoted by PTI.
Also Read: Jammu And Kashmir Exit Polls 2024: Congress-NC Heading For Big Win, BJP Trails Behind.
While speaking on the Jammu and Kashmir Governor’s power for nominating members to the five reserved seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah said that he would approach the Supreme Court against the move.
“The LG should first of all stay away from this process as a government is being formed. It is for the government to nominate people and send it (nominations) to the LG. That is the normal procedure. What they want to do, I do not know. However, if they do it (give powers to LG), we will go to the Supreme Court. What is the point in making the government, if the Lord Sahib remains here? We have to fight against all this," Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.
The five reserved seats are for two women, two Kashmiri migrants and one for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The counting of votes for the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will take place on Tuesday. Several exit polls predict a tight contest between the JN-Conress alliance and the BJP. Meanwhile, the PDP is likely to struggle to win even 10 seats.
(With inputs from PTI)