Srinagar, 9 January 2025: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged a decisive direction for the INDIA bloc on Thursday, stating it should dissolve if it was conceived solely for the parliamentary elections.
Abdullah expressed dissatisfaction with the alliance’s undefined leadership and vague agenda during an interaction with reporters.
“If this alliance was only formed for the parliamentary elections, it’s better to wind it up and allow us to work separately. However, if it’s intended for assembly elections too, we must collaborate and strategize,” Abdullah said, responding to remarks by a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader who suggested the bloc’s purpose was confined to Lok Sabha polls.
Abdullah questioned the absence of recent alliance meetings. “There was no timeline specified for this bloc. Yet, no meetings are being convened to chart a path forward. Leadership and strategy remain unclear,” he remarked, adding that discussions might occur after the Delhi assembly polls to clarify the future.
On Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) growing prospects in next month's Delhi elections, Abdullah refrained from predictions, saying, “We’re not involved in the Delhi polls. It’s for AAP, Congress, and other parties on the ground to determine how to challenge the BJP effectively. AAP has succeeded twice before in Delhi; now, it’s up to the people.”
Separately, Abdullah mentioned the importance of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s orientation programme for newly elected legislators, held on Thursday.
“This Assembly is functioning under a different system from when Jammu and Kashmir was a state. Understanding these new procedures is vital for effectively representing the people,” he said.
The programme included the participation of senior leaders and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, which Abdullah believed would benefit lawmakers in their future sessions. “The experience shared today will equip MLAs to raise public issues more effectively in the Assembly,” he added.