Omar Abdullah says open on pre-poll alliance with Congress, but with a condition

National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday confirmed that he had received a proposal from the Congress for an alliance in the state J&K for Lok Sabha elections 2019. But he had made it clear to the Congress that only National Conference candidates will contest on the three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley.

“If it suits them (Congress), we can talk about other seats. Let's see what response we receive,” Abdullah told the media.  

The polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases on April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6. The results would be announced on May 23.

J&K has six Lok Sabha seats, three in the Valley, two in the Jammu division and one in the Ladakh division.

Abdullah has been vocal against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not holding the Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously. He had earlier said Modi has "surrendered" before Pakistan, terrorists and separatists,

“It amounts to denying the people of the state their democratic right to form an elected government,” Abdullah said on the sidelines of a party function in Anantnag district on Sunday.

Commenting on the launch of a new political party by former IAS officer Shah Faesal, Omar said it remains to be seen whether the new party would have something new to offer to the people.

The EC announced the schedule for Lok Sabha polls to be held in seven phases across the country, including in J-K (five phases), but cited security grounds for not holding the assembly polls simultaneously.

In Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, polling will be held in three phases due to security reasons.

"In light of the failure to conduct assembly elections on time in J&K, I'm retweeting my tweets from a few days ago. PM Modi has surrendered to Pakistan, to the militants & to the Hurriyat. Well done Modi Sahib. 56-inch chest failed. #slowclap," Omar, the NC vice-president, wrote on Twitter.