M A I N   N E W S

Omar embarks on 2014 poll trail
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 17
After overhauling his council of ministers by inducting 10 new faces and dropping seven, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today virtually kick started his party’s campaign for the 2014 Assembly elections.

Omar’s speech on the occasion of his trusted aide Devender Singh Rana’s installation as the provincial president of the National Conference was aimed at striking an emotional chord with party cadre. He said he considered the “party as his family and workers as his family members”.

He told party ministers to give importance to the cadre so as to develop better coordination between the government and the party. “Our workers deserve respect and dignity. It is the responsibility of those in the government to give due honour to the cadre,” he said. He warned ministers against ignoring party workers.

“It is my clear direction to all party ministers that they should take party office-bearers into confidence while touring different regions,” he said. He directed the ministers to take the issues raised by workers seriously.

Exhorting workers to prepare themselves for the Assembly elections, Omar said, “The coming the one year and a half is very crucial and we have to connect with the masses to highlight achievements of the government. I have high regard for our workers because they are our strength. So, we have to give importance to the suggestions coming from them,” he said.

Omar also tried to placate the “annoyed” legislators who have been dropped from the council of ministers. “Party is more important than the government. It is due to the experience and commitment of these leaders that they have been relieved from the government and given important assignments in the party orgnisation,” he said.

“We are of the opinion that your experience and commitment is required more in the party than the government,” he added.