Omar challenges Azad to contest election against him

Srinagar, Apr 15: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday accused the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad of attacking the NC through the media instead of actively participating in the election. He challenged him to run against him in the Lok Sabha elections.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his roadshow in Doda, Omar threw down the gauntlet to Azad, challenging him to enter the electoral fray to truly gauge his political influence. “It’s easy to make statements from behind a camera. If he’s confident, let him run against me and we’ll see the support he garners,” Omar said.
He said the National Conference had always considered Azad a friend until he started attacking their party. “We thought of him as an ally, but it turned out he’s siding with the BJP. It seems he’s targeting us because he can’t criticize the BJP,” he added.
Abdullah accused the DPAP of not serving the public interest but rather assisting the BJP. He reminded the public of the BJP’s decision to revoke Article 370, which downgraded Jammu and Kashmir from a state to two Union Territories.
The NC leader also questioned the BJP’s promises of development, industrialization, and job creation, criticizing them for not providing employment in local projects and for leasing out power to other states despite local shortages.
Notably, Omar, who once led Jammu and Kashmir as chief minister, will contest elections from the Baramulla constituency. He is also supporting Choudhary Lal Singh, an INDIA bloc candidate, in the Chenab valley—Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts—a region where Azad holds sway.