Srinagar: Terming the Lok Sabah elections results in Jammu and Kashmir a one sided match, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday took blame for the defeat of coalition candidates in the state.
According to KNS correspondent, Omar while addressing a press conference at his Gupkar residence here said that he is undecided about his stepping down. “I am not the one who shies away from responsibility. I accept complete responsibility for our defeat in the Lok Sabha election in the state. I will discuss and debate with my cabinet colleagues whether to continue or step down,” Omar said while adding that the verdict in J&K was surprising and unexpected. He said that since the verdict was that of Lok Sabah elections and it was upto the coalition parties whether they want him to continue or step down.
“It is big setback for the National Conference that opposition PDP has taken all the three seats in valley. I do not blame Congress for this defeat in valley but my own cabinet colleagues have not shown any performance in their respective constituencies,” Omar told media persons adding that it would be for his party to decide whether to field him as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections scheduled to be held on October-November this years.
“It is for my party to decide whether it wants to field me as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the assembly elections or anybody else. We fought elections on national issues and not on local issues. Performance of the state government was not an issue,” he stressed. Omar admitted that next few months are not going to be easy for his party National Conference and that is the lesson he has taken from the today’s Lok Sabah verdict. The chief minister said that on the contrary opposition PDP raised issues like Afzal Guru hanging, 2010 killings and increase in power tariff.
He declined to answer about reasons behind the debacle of coalition candidates in the state saying that the election results being unexpected and the same will be discussed with his party colleagues. “I will convene a meeting of my party and will take stock of these elections and tits results declared today,” he added. The chief minister hoped that those who have succeeded in elections in Jammu and Kashmir will represent people’s aspirations in Parliament. “These results does not mean an end of National Conference. Five years ago PDP had not bagged any seat and similarly it should not be misconstrued that this is an end of National Conference,” Omar said.
Congratulating BJP led NDA Omar said that he hopes that NDA will respect the public sentiment and aspirations. “This is after 1984 that BJP has got such a tally and the party should respect the public sentiment,” Omar said according to KNS correspondent. He said that whether to change the chief minister or form an alliance with Congress for the upcoming assembly elections depends on his party National Conference. (KNS)