Omar: Congress should focus on campaigning in Jammu region

On the day when second phase of polling for the Assembly elections took place in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed his unhappiness over the alliance partner Congress campaign in the Jammu region. Omar said the Congress hasn’t campaigned as much as was expected from it in Jammu, where it has got the lion’s share in the seat-sharing agreement with his party.

“The lion’s share of the seats that the alliance gave in Jammu was to the Congress party,” he said. “Yet, the Congress’ campaign in Jammu is yet to begin and there are only five days of campaigning.”

He was commenting on the visit of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to Sopore town for an election rally in support of Congress candidates.

Omar said unfortunately, the Congress has not done as much in the plains of Jammu as the NC — which is in a pre-poll alliance with the Congress — expects it to do.

“I hope that after (Congress MP) Rahul (Gandhi) is done campaigning in one or two seats in Kashmir, he focuses on Jammu,” Omar said. “Ultimately, what the Congress does in Kashmir is not that important. But, what the Congress does in Jammu is important.”

Last month ahead of the voting, the National Conference and the Congress had finalised a seat-share formula, with the parties set to contest 51 and 32 seats, respectively. The two parties also decided to do a friendly contest on five seats.

While the National Conference is actively involved in the poll campaigning in the Kashmir region, the Congress party in the Jammu region hasn’t been able to give a boost to the poll campaign.

On the other hand, top BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda have aggressively campaigned in the Jammu region.

To another question, Omar said the party is hoping to do well in the first two phases. “We have been waiting for 10 years. First phase went well. We expect a good turnout from the second phase also,” he said, adding, “Regardless of the party, people’s enthusiasm has been heartening.”

Top NC leader also said all election days are important. “It is not about me. It is about the party as a whole. All phases are important for the party,” he said.