Former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday took a veiled swipe at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti after she referred to the Abdullah family as political dynasty. On a visit to the North Kashmir Ganderbal Assembly constituency-to which he has been nominated as the NC candidate-Abdullah told reporters, "Those who called us dynasts have not themselves joined the elections, but fielded their relatives. If they were against dynastic politics, they should have fielded someone else and not their relatives."
He said this in relation to Mehbooba Mufti, who has been continuously attacking the Abdullah family as one promoting dynastic rule in J&K. Mehbooba's daughter, Iltija Mufti is contesting the Assembly elections as PDP candidate from Bijbehara constituency of Anantnag district.
Quizzed about his own statement that the Assembly in the Union Territory would be powerless, Omar Abdullah conceded that though the Assembly may not have much power at the beginning, participation in it is must to make it more powerful.
To the earlier statement he had issued that even minor decisions would have to be approved by the Lt. Governor by the UT's chief minister, Abdullah said that for the time being, the people should elect an MLA and later on discuss the role of the chief minister.
He also reflected upon the lessons after losing against Engineer Rashid in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency and said any election taken for granted might be lost.
The ECI issued a notification on Thursday calling candidates to submit their nomination papers for the second phase of elections to the J&K Assembly. The last date for filing of nomination papers is September 5, while the scrutiny of papers will be held on September 6. The candidates can withdraw their candidature till September 9. The polling for the second phase will be held on September 25, while the results of all phases will be declared on October 4.
This phase will include a few major constituencies, namely Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, among others.
Scrutiny of nomination papers for the first phase was completed on Wednesday. Nomination papers of 34 candidates were rejected for want of requisite documents. Sarjan Ahmad Wagay commonly known as Sarjan Barkati was also rejected as he did not furnish an oath certificate, according to reports.
Read also| Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar to Accept Court's Verdict in Disproportionate Assets Case
Read also| Lalan Singh Criticizes Mamata Banerjee for Decline in Law and Order in Bengal
