In the wake of Mehbooba Mufti's announcement that her party intends to field candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of the National Conference (NC), pointed fingers at her for shutting the door on potential seat sharing.
During a press briefing, Mehbooba Mufti, the President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declared that her party would contest in three Lok Sabha seats within the Valley. She cited the NC's decision to field candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in the Valley without consulting the PDP as the reason behind their decision.
Responding to Mufti's declaration, Omar Abdullah stated, "We have kept the door open, and if she has chosen to close it, it's not our responsibility." He emphasized that the NC had maintained an open stance for reconciliation and unity, implying that Mufti's decision was not in line with their efforts.
Omar Abdullah further explained, "If PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has opted to field candidates on all five seats, it's her prerogative. We have adhered to her formula by contesting in three seats in Kashmir. If she is fielding her own candidates, it suggests a reluctance for any form of alliance, even for the assembly elections."
He highlighted that Mufti's decision indicates that the PDP is not inclined towards forming alliances even for the upcoming Assembly elections. "We followed the PDP's formula by selecting constituencies where NC had previously emerged victorious in Lok Sabha elections," Omar Abdullah added.
Following the exchange of blame between the NC and the PDP on Wednesday, it's evident that both parties are gearing up for electoral battles. Despite claiming to present a united front against the BJP, the NC and the PDP seem poised to directly compete against each other in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Read also | Identifying the Multifaceted Money Trails in ED's Response to Kejriwal's Plea
Read also | Sharmila Accuses Jagan of Protecting Uncle Vivekananda Reddy's Alleged Killers
