PDP takes a dig at Omar Abdullah's move to not contest from Ganderbal

SRINAGAR: After Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah decided not to contest from Ganderbal assembly seat, Opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, while taking a dig, said the move has already "announced the result of entire state" even before polling.

"Ganderbal has in fact announced the result of entire state by making Omar Abdullah, head of the outgoing government, to run away from here in pursuit of a safe seat," Mehbooba said addressing a road show in Ganderabal.

She said Ganderbal Assembly segment has once again created history by making Chief Minister Omar Abdullah leave the constituency even before a vote was cast.

Omar, the National Conference president and sitting MLA from Ganderbal, decided not to contest the forthcoming assembly polls from the family bastion. He is instead contesting from Sonawar assembly segment in the city and Beerwah in Budgam district.

The PDP president said in 2002, Ganderbal created a history by voting against Omar that changed the political discourse on the ground.

"After the historical verdict of Ganderbal in 2002, entire scenario got changed not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in the entire South Asian region which paved a way for the resolution of conflict by bringing India and Pakistan close to each other," she claimed.

Mehbooba said Ganderbal has this time declared result of the state elections even before polling.

She said Omar, during election campaign in 2008, had promised the people of Ganderbal moon and stars while seeking votes.

"Didn't he promise you that he will start recruitment in police for the youth; give jobs to even (people with) under-matric (qualification) and provide you cheap LP gas. What has happened to those promises?" she asked.