G T News Service
Jammu, April 5:
The decision of former Chief Minister and the National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah to support Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh is the biggest political development in the ongoing campaign for the parliamentary elections.
He said he would help Congress candidates in the elections for the Jammu and Udhampur seats. This is the first time he’s agreed to work with Choudhary Lal Singh, even though they didn’t get along before.
Putting an end to his animosity towards veteran politician Choudhary Lal Singh, Omar Abdullah, the National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister, has announced his intention to campaign for Congress candidates in both seats of the Jammu province.
“In coming days, after going to Delhi, it’ll be clear that NC & Congress will fight together on 5 seats in J&K,” JKNC Vice President @OmarAbdullah.pic.twitter.com/zqB93T6GYU
— JKNC (@JKNC_) April 4, 2024
“I will be lending my support to Congress candidates on the Jammu and Udhampur Lok Sabha seats,” said Omar Abdullah, hinting at mobilizing backing for Choudhary Lal Singh in areas where the National Conference holds influence.
This marks the first time Omar Abdullah has declared his willingness to share the platform with Choudhary Lal Singh, following a history of strained relations between the two leaders. The rift escalated during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in January 2023, when Singh accused Omar Abdullah of denying him a stage at Lakhanpur, the gateway of J&K.
Omar Abdullah had previously opposed the Congress’ decision to include Choudhary Lal Singh in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in J&K in 2023. However, the dynamics seem to be shifting, as Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, who were initially divided over sharing a stage with Singh, have now joined the campaign for him, along with other senior leaders.
Their unity was evident during an all-party meeting held at Senior Abdullah’s residence on September 11, 2022, in Jammu, where Choudhary Lal Singh not only attended but was also nominated as a member of a 14-member panel to strategize against the inclusion of “non-locals” in the revised electoral rolls of Jammu and Kashmir.
While Omar Abdullah had been firm in his stance against sharing a stage with Lal Singh, the recent developments suggest a shift in strategy. Meanwhile, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, after addressing a public meeting at Batote to garner support for Choudhary Lal Singh, also took to the podium in Katra town to rally behind Raman Bhalla, further consolidating the alliance.
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