Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday said the National Conference (NC) contesting both the Budgam and Nagrota assembly by-elections, scheduled for November 11, with full confidence of victory.
Speaking to reporters in Jammu as per news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Omar Abdullah said the Budgam seat was earlier held by the NC, while the Nagrota seat was lost in the last election. “We are determined to reclaim Nagrota this time,” he said.
The by-election in Nagrota was necessitated following the demise of BJP legislator Devender Singh Rana on October 31 last year, while the Budgam seat fell vacant after Abdullah retained Ganderbal, his family’s traditional stronghold, having won both constituencies in the previous assembly elections.
The BJP has fielded Devyani Rana, daughter of the late Devender Singh Rana, from Nagrota and Aga Syed Mohsin from Budgam. The National Conference, on the other hand, has nominated District Development Council member Shamim Begum from Nagrota and former minister Agha Syed Mehbooba from Budgam.
He expressed confidence that the people of both constituencies would vote for the NC, “recognizing the party’s consistent commitment to development and accountability.”
On the issue of statehood restoration, Abdullah said the NC’s legal experts are examining the possibility of joining the Supreme Court proceedings. “We are weighing the pros and cons. If it benefits the people, we will approach the court,” he said.(KINS)
