Omar Abdullah appeals to PDP not to field candidates against NC-Cong nominees

SRINAGAR, Aug 25: NC vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday claimed the PDP has copied his party’s manifesto and asked the Mehbooba Mufti-led party to not field candidates against NC-Congress nominees for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir as their agenda is the same.
Abdullah’s remarks came a day after Mehbooba said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would extend complete support to the Congress-National Conference alliance and leave all seats in the elections for the coalition if it accepts her party’s agenda.The former J&K CM was addressing NC workers in Ganderbal district, where activist Sayim Mustafa joined the party.Abdullah said the NC has prepared an extensive manifesto for the assembly polls which has been copied by other parties.On the PDP’s offer, Abdullah said there was not much difference between the agenda of the NC and the PDP.“They (PDP) said if the NC-Congress alliance accepts their agenda, they will not put up candidates. You have put all our agenda in your manifesto. You have already accepted our agenda and now there is not much of a difference between your agenda and our agenda. Then do not field candidates and come, we will build a better tomorrow for Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Omar Abdullah to contest from Ganderbal
Omar Abdullah will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from the Ganderbal constituency.
This announcement was made by Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a Lok Sabha member, and Nasir Aslam Wani, on Sunday in the presence of Omar Abdullah and Mian Altaf Ahmad, senior NC leader and MP from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.Sunday’s announcement about Omar Abdullah deciding to fight the Assembly elections has negated his earlier statement that he would not stand for the elections as long as J&K remained a union territory. (Agencies)