Published On:Sunday, 2 November 2014
Omar’s opponents ‘rejoice’, in Sonawar, Beerwah
‘Chance to emerge as giant killer’
Srinagar: So weak is the political capital of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instead of being worried, his opponents in Beerwah and Sonawar are rejoicing over the prospect of facing a sitting Chief Minister in the upcoming assembly elections.
Though many believe National Conference (NC) must have done some homework before committing its working president from fighting on two different seats but rivals seems to be unfazed by what would otherwise have been a daunting challenge.
The candidates of different political parties from both Sonawar and Beerwah constituency which the chief minister hopes to represent in coming assembly elections, seem to be least bothered about the development and some even said that this was a “God sent gist to emerge as giant killer”, by defeating Omar Abdullah.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from Sonwar constituency of Srinagar district, Muhammad Ashraf Mir said that his party will sweep all the seats of entire region.
Mir seemed to be confident enough about his success as he claimed that he would defeat Omar Abdullah from Sonawar constituency with a huge margin.
“What competition would I have from Omar abdullah who has accepted defeat before polls by leaving his ancestral constituency Ganderbal? He is now searching for a safer place in other constituencies? People have already shown cold feet to him and time has again proved that PDP is a party with change,” he said.
Dismissing any threat from chief minister, Congress candidate for Beerwah, Nazir Khan welcomed the Chief Minister for what he believes an ‘open competition’.
He claims that Chief Minister has a poor track record in the said constituency which according to him would give Omar Abdullah a cold response in coming assembly elections.
“Omar Abdullah has a poor track record as chief minister of the state and it is impossible for him to garner support in Beerwah constituency. He has failed to fulfill the aspiration of people in his ancestral constituency, Ganderbal and after ruining it he handed it over to another person,” he said.
Khan said that his contribution to Beerwah constituency was higher than Omar Abdullah as chief minister of the state.
“People don’t vote on the basis of name but it is contribution which matters. I am a local and even my fathers worked for the welfare of people due to which he was able to win 20,000 votes earlier when he was a part of Janta Dal.I have a huge network and support here,” he added.
PDP’s candidate and sitting MLA from Beerwah Dr. Mohammad Shafi claimed that Omar Abdullah was not a priority for people of Beerwah. He claimed that the people of Beerwah have been supporting PDP since its inception.
“Since 2002, locals of Beerwah have been supporting PDP, may it be the assembly or parliament elections. Here people are politically mature and they have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Here the population is about 30,000 and we hope that PDP will emerge as winner,” Dr. Shafi added.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has tweeted that he has decided to leave Ganderbal constituency two years ago.
“Having decided two years ago that I wouldn’t seek reelection from Ganderbal I have continued to work for the constituency and always do so,” he tweeted.
Srinagar: So weak is the political capital of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instead of being worried, his opponents in Beerwah and Sonawar are rejoicing over the prospect of facing a sitting Chief Minister in the upcoming assembly elections.
Though many believe National Conference (NC) must have done some homework before committing its working president from fighting on two different seats but rivals seems to be unfazed by what would otherwise have been a daunting challenge.
The candidates of different political parties from both Sonawar and Beerwah constituency which the chief minister hopes to represent in coming assembly elections, seem to be least bothered about the development and some even said that this was a “God sent gist to emerge as giant killer”, by defeating Omar Abdullah.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from Sonwar constituency of Srinagar district, Muhammad Ashraf Mir said that his party will sweep all the seats of entire region.
Mir seemed to be confident enough about his success as he claimed that he would defeat Omar Abdullah from Sonawar constituency with a huge margin.
“What competition would I have from Omar abdullah who has accepted defeat before polls by leaving his ancestral constituency Ganderbal? He is now searching for a safer place in other constituencies? People have already shown cold feet to him and time has again proved that PDP is a party with change,” he said.
Dismissing any threat from chief minister, Congress candidate for Beerwah, Nazir Khan welcomed the Chief Minister for what he believes an ‘open competition’.
He claims that Chief Minister has a poor track record in the said constituency which according to him would give Omar Abdullah a cold response in coming assembly elections.
“Omar Abdullah has a poor track record as chief minister of the state and it is impossible for him to garner support in Beerwah constituency. He has failed to fulfill the aspiration of people in his ancestral constituency, Ganderbal and after ruining it he handed it over to another person,” he said.
Khan said that his contribution to Beerwah constituency was higher than Omar Abdullah as chief minister of the state.
“People don’t vote on the basis of name but it is contribution which matters. I am a local and even my fathers worked for the welfare of people due to which he was able to win 20,000 votes earlier when he was a part of Janta Dal.I have a huge network and support here,” he added.
PDP’s candidate and sitting MLA from Beerwah Dr. Mohammad Shafi claimed that Omar Abdullah was not a priority for people of Beerwah. He claimed that the people of Beerwah have been supporting PDP since its inception.
“Since 2002, locals of Beerwah have been supporting PDP, may it be the assembly or parliament elections. Here people are politically mature and they have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong. Here the population is about 30,000 and we hope that PDP will emerge as winner,” Dr. Shafi added.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has tweeted that he has decided to leave Ganderbal constituency two years ago.
“Having decided two years ago that I wouldn’t seek reelection from Ganderbal I have continued to work for the constituency and always do so,” he tweeted.
