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Basharat Peer in Srinagar
Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will resign from the Union Cabinet at the completion of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election process.
Addressing the media, Abdullah, however, said, "There will be no drastic changes in our relationship with the National Democratic Alliance."
"We will not have a ministerial representative in the NDA. The BJP has indulged in a vicious campaign against the NC in this election. Not just the local leaders, even someone like Sushma Swaraj made allegations against the NC. It has left a bitter taste," he said, explaining his decision to quit.
Terming the NC-BJP alliance at the Centre as a 'curious political alliance that defies all political logic', he wondered how the two parties can be friends at the Centre and foes in the state.
Reflecting the growing realisation within the party that its alliance with the BJP might be affecting its electoral prospects, Abdullah said, "The NC looses its identity being part of a central government led by a big party. We will look at all that after the elections."
But he expressed confidence that the NC will form the government in the state. "We will win more seats than people think," he added.
On the question of an alliance, the NC president ruled out any tie up with the BJP, Congress or the PDP. "There will be no coalition government by the NC. I will either be an NC chief minister or the leader of the opposition," he said.
Speaking on the question of autonomy, the NC president said that his government will continue the dialogue on autonomy, based on the resolution adopted by the state assembly in 2000, with the Centre.
"Now all political parties except the Shiv Sena and the RSS are accepting the autonomy demand," he said.
Replying to a question as to what the assembly election meant, Omar said they [election] were not about Azadi or India or Pakistan. "The election is meant to elect the representatives of the state legislative assembly and engaging them in a dialogue with the Centre on issues of their concern."
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