National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Sunday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of copying his party’s manifesto ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah’s remarks came a day after PDP President Mehbooba Mufti expressed her party’s willingness to extend full support to the Congress-NC alliance, provided her party’s agenda is accepted.
Addressing a gathering of NC workers in Ganderbal, central Kashmir, where activist Sayim Mustafa formally joined the party, Abdullah criticized the PDP for mirroring NC’s promises in their recently released manifesto. “We have prepared an extensive manifesto for the assembly polls, and it’s disappointing to see that other parties, particularly the PDP, have copied our agenda almost word for word,” Abdullah said.
Highlighting key points from the NC’s manifesto, Abdullah noted that his party had promised to provide 200 free units of electricity if elected to power. He pointed out that the PDP made the same promise in their manifesto, which was unveiled by Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday.
“We said we would provide one lakh government jobs in the first year; they also included that in their manifesto. We talked about reopening cross-Line of Control (LoC) routes, and they put that in their manifesto as well. We emphasized keeping the doors of dialogue open, and they echoed this too. Almost everything my colleagues put in our manifesto, they have included in theirs,” Abdullah stated.
On the issue of the PDP’s offer of support, Abdullah suggested that there was little difference between the agendas of the two parties, making a case for a united front in the upcoming elections. “They (PDP) said if the NC-Congress alliance accepts their agenda, they will not field candidates. But you have already incorporated our agenda into your manifesto. Now, there isn’t much of a difference between our agendas. So, don’t field candidates; instead, join us in building a better future for Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah urged.
Abdullah’s speech comes in the wake of Mehbooba Mufti’s proposal, wherein she suggested that the PDP would refrain from contesting in the assembly elections if the Congress-NC coalition agreed to her party’s political objectives. This development highlights the ongoing political realignment in the region, as parties attempt to form strategic alliances in the face of a challenging electoral environment.
During his address, Omar Abdullah also faced calls from within his party to reconsider his decision not to contest the assembly elections. NC workers chanted slogans, urging him to run from Ganderbal, a constituency with deep ties to the Abdullah family. Despite the enthusiasm from his supporters, Abdullah remained non-committal about his future electoral plans.
“This is my first campaign meeting after the announcement of the assembly elections. It should have been in the constituencies going to polls in the first phase in south Kashmir. This may be a sign,” he remarked, leaving the door open for speculation about his potential candidacy. The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir continues to evolve rapidly as parties navigate the complexities of coalition politics and manifesto promises.
Abdullah’s statements reflect the NC’s determination to assert its agenda while also addressing the overlapping goals shared with the PDP. As the election date draws closer, the possibility of a broader alliance to counter other political forces in the region remains a focal point of discussion. The PDP’s response to Abdullah’s criticism and the NC’s next steps in the evolving electoral scenario will likely shape the discourse in the coming weeks. As voters in Jammu and Kashmir prepare to head to the polls, the alignment of political strategies and manifestos could play a crucial role in determining the region’s political future.
