Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday launched his party’s poll campaign from Jammu with the slogan, "HAL hi Hal hai".
The election symbol of the party, as approved by the Election Commission, is ‘plough’ (HAL in chaste hindi).
Addressing a day-long youth convention here at party headquarters, Omar told youth wing delegates, “gear up for the crucial polls ahead. The fight is not going to be easy. You have to work hard from now onwards to win the majority seats. We need 45 seats to form our own Government. We can win these seats by working as a team and helping each other in their constituencies”.
Positioning himself as a ‘mature’ leader of the party he said, “I am a changed man now. I am no longer the same Omar Abdullah who ruled the state for six long years".
"Stop calling me a youth leader. I am going to celebrate my 50th birthday next year. My hair is grey now and i am also using reading glasses".
Omar also made a passionate appeal to the state electorate to give him another opportunity to rule the state. He said, you have tried various coalition Governments in the state.Give me one more chance to serve you.
Sharing his serious concern over growing inclination among Jammu & Kashmir youth towards militancy, Omar said shrinking of space has pushed them to the wall.