NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday asserted that he would be the ruling party's chief ministerial candidate in the forthcoming assembly elections.
"There has been a growing demand from within the National Conference that I must steer the party during the ensuing assembly elections. I have, therefore, decided to be the party's chief ministerial candidate once again," he told the state assembly.
"I promise free and fair elections. There would be no rigging and I request the Election Commission to send as many observers as necessary to remove doubts about the fair conduct of polls," he said.
"I also request Pakistan to stop the bloodshed in J&K so that the forthcoming democratic process reaches its logical conclusion," Dr Abdullah said.
The recent anointment of Farooq's son and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah as party president was thought of as his first step towards the chief minister's post.
However, senior leaders are believed to have convinced Dr Abdullah not to hand over the reins to Omar as yet.
Dr Abdullah also told the state assembly that Housing and Urban Development Minister Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Shah would represent the state in talks with Arun Jaitley on the autonomy issue.
G M Shah had earlier been in the team that held discussions with G Parthasarthy in 1975 on the same issue.
The chief minister noted with satisfaction that the 'BJP, which once sought abrogation of Article 370 is now ready to discuss autonomy'.
More reports on Jammu and Kashmir
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
