Two mainstream political parties in Kashmir National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have upped ante against BJP ahead of the announcement of Assembly and parliament elections in Jammu and Kashmir. On Monday, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accused the BJP of deceiving the people of Kashmir by rejecting their mandate twice.
Abdullah challenged the BJP to announce chief ministerial candidate if the people in the Valley give them a mandate. “I challenge the BJP to announce their chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming elections because they have cheated the people of Jammu and Kashmir twice… The people deserve to know whom the BJP will make the CM if they give 25-26 MLAs to the BJP,” Abdullah said.
Omar’s reaction came in response to Union Minister of State Dr Jatindra Singh’s statement that Kashmir’s mainstream politicians are more dangerous than separatists.
In a similar reaction former Minister and senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar asked BJP to explain why it ignored its 25 MLAs and selected a CM candidate from Kashmir who has mere 2 seats in the assembly.
“Why were you (Jitendra Singh) or Kulvinder Gupta (former Deputy Chief Minister) or any other BJP leader not chosen as CM candidate of the party from the State. How can you people convince your own voters after such a decision has been taken by your party,” Akhtar asked.