At first rally in Nagrota, Omar seeks votes for NC
By-poll results won’t make any change in Govt
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today had to cut short his speech in favour of National Conference candidate for Nagrota Shamim Begum due to technical snag in audio system within five minutes of the address, his first rally for the by-poll where his party candidate is pitted against Devyani Rana daughter of Devender Singh Rana, late BJP stalwart and former Political Advisor to Omar, among others.
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The audio system developed snag barely four to five minutes after Omar started his speech in favour of Shamim Begum, a sitting member of the District Development Council (DDC). The Chief Minister waited for a couple of minutes for the audio system to be repaired by those managing the stage.
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Sensing the situation, the National Conference leaders and workers started raising slogans in favour of the party and the Chief Minister. Later, Omar spoke for a couple of minutes without mike before leaving the dais.
A large number of people had turned up at the National Conference rally which besides Omar Abdullah was being attended by senior leaders of the party. Some of the party leaders had already addressed the gathering. However, technical snag in the audio system developed within four to five minutes when Omar started his address.
This was the Chief Minister’s first rally for Nagrota by-election where BJP’s Devyani Rana is facing Shamim Begum of NC, Harshdev Singh, former Minister (JKNPP-I) and Anil Sharma, Independent among others.
In his brief address, Omar said Nagrota by-election is not aimed at making or breaking the Government but will decide whether the people elect their representative who has liaison and close relations with the Government or the one who tries to work for the people by staying in the Opposition.
“Neither Nagrota nor Budgam (where also by-poll is being held) will decide whose Government is formed. The Government is already in place (in Jammu and Kashmir) and it won’t change even after the by-elections results,” Omar said.
He said two type of elections are held-one that makes the Government whether in the State through the Assembly or at the Centre via the Parliament. Then there are by-elections which are conducted when the seats fall vacant due to resignation or death of the sitting members.
“People of Jammu and Kashmir cast their votes last year and gave power to the National Conference. We fielded our candidate in Nagrota also that time but the people gave different verdict,” Omar said.
Devender Singh Rana, won Nagrota seat in 2014 as NC candidate but switched over to the BJP in October 2021. Rana retained Nagrota seat for the BJP in 2024 Assembly elections with over 30,000 votes but passed away within few days of the election.
“The current election is not for the Government formation. Also, this is neither for election of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister. These posts have been decided. One more seat to the BJP won’t bring them to the power and one less seat to the NC will not take power from them,” Omar said, adding that formation of the Government has already been decided and the by-election results will not bring any change.
After technical snag, the Chief Minister waited for couple of minutes and then addressed the crowd for a minute without mike as party leaders and workers raised slogans in favour of the Chief Minister and the National Conference.
He addressed the crowd for a minute without mike saying he had to speak a lot and called for making NC candidate Shamim Begum victorious saying she has been working for them as the DDC member for last four and a half years.
He then left the stage.
By-election to Nagrota seat along with Budgam in Kashmir will be held on November 11 while counting of votes will be taken up on November 14. By-poll in Budgam was necessitated as Omar quit the seat while retaining Ganderbal.
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