Holding Lok Sabha, Assembly polls in JK simultaneously a big test for Modi, says Omar

Srinagar: National Conference vice president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously in the state is a big test for Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi as holding separate polls would sent out a message that situation in Kashmir during three year long PDP-BJP coalition rule has become un-conducive for conduct of polls in the state.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a public rally at Shangus in Anantnag district, Omar hit out at both PDP and BJP, saying that PDP goes to Delhi for begging over the demand for deferment of polls as the party has lost ground in Kashmir and PDP’s demand suits BJP which too has lost ground in its strong bastion Jammu.

He said deferment of Assembly polls and conducting Lok Sabha and Assembly polls separately would be a big failure for Modi in Jammu and Kashmir as the same would sent out a message that Modi government has failed to create a conducive atmosphere for holding of assembly polls in the state.

Alleging that PDP leaders visit ‘Delhi darbars’ with the demand for deferment of assembly polls due to its poor failure in running a coalition government in alliance with BJP during last three years, Omar said keeping in view the ruling of the Supreme Court of India on holding assembly polls within six months after the imposition of president’s rule in any state, the holding of Lok Sabha and assembly polls simultaneously is a big challenge for Prime Minister Modi.

He said National Conference has always stood for timely conduct of elections and is vehemently opposed to any deferment of the assembly polls in the state.

(With inputs from KNS)