Lagatar24 Desk
Srinagar: Ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah made an emotional plea to the people of Ganderbal on Wednesday, stating, “My turban and my honour are in your hands.” The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, who has filed his nomination from the Ganderbal constituency, appealed for support in a heartfelt address to the local residents.
During the public gathering, Omar Abdullah removed his skull cap, symbolizing his appeal for the people’s trust and support. “Today, I will say only one thing—my turban, my honour, and this cap are in your hands,” he expressed. However, the crowd reassured him, indicating that he did not need to remove his cap to earn their respect.
Known for his speeches in Urdu, Abdullah spoke in Kashmiri this time, reaching out to the Ganderbal community with folded hands. “Give me a chance. I appeal to Ganderbal with folded hands that give me an opportunity, and I will serve you and represent you,” he urged, emphasizing his commitment to the region.
Ganderbal: A National Conference Stronghold
Ganderbal holds significant importance for the National Conference, as it has been a traditional stronghold for the Abdullah family across generations. The party’s founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, won the seat in 1977, followed by his son Farooq Abdullah, who secured victories in 1983, 1987, and 1996. Omar Abdullah himself was elected from Ganderbal in 2008, continuing the family legacy.
In the 2014 Assembly elections, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar won the Ganderbal seat on a National Conference ticket, after previously contesting unsuccessfully on a Congress ticket. Omar Abdullah’s decision to contest from Ganderbal again marks his return to the constituency he represented from 2009 to 2014 as the chief minister of the NC-Congress coalition government.
Accompanied by senior party leaders and his sons, Abdullah submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer at the mini-secretariat, signaling his readiness for the electoral battle.
In the 2014 elections, Abdullah won from the Beerwah seat in Budgam district but was defeated in the Sonwar seat in Srinagar by Mohammad Ashraf Mir, a former leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Seat-Sharing Strategy
The National Conference and Congress have entered into a seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming elections, covering all 90 Assembly seats in the Union Territory. According to the pact, the National Conference will contest 51 seats, while Congress will contest 32, with five seats reserved for a friendly contest between the two parties. Additionally, two seats have been allocated for allies, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the National Panthers Party.
