JAMMU, Jan 9: During a recent discussion, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighted concerns over the lack of direction within the INDIA alliance, indicating that no specific time frame was established for its activities. He remarked that if the alliance was solely focused on the parliamentary elections, it should be disbanded. Abdullah emphasized that political entities such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress will determine strategies to effectively challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the ground.
“Following the Assembly elections in Delhi, a meeting should involve all alliance members. If this coalition is strictly for the Lok Sabha elections, then it should conclude, and we will proceed independently. However, if it aims to include Assembly elections, collective efforts will be necessary,” Abdullah stated to reporters.
Responding to a query regarding an RJD leader’s comment regarding the alliance’s intent, Abdullah noted, “To my knowledge, there hasn’t been a set deadline for this. The real concern is that meetings among the INDIA bloc members have not been happening.”
He further expressed his concern about the ambiguity around the central leadership, organization, and future strategies within the INDIA bloc, asserting, “The continuation of this alliance remains uncertain.” Abdullah speculated that a meeting of INDIA bloc members could occur post-Delhi elections, potentially clarifying the situation.
When questioned about the growing support for AAP ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections, Abdullah mentioned, “I can’t comment on that since we are not involved in the Delhi elections. It will be up to the AAP, Congress, and other political groups to decide how best to confront the BJP.”
Recognizing AAP’s past successes in Delhi, he remarked, “We’ll have to see how the electorate of Delhi responds this time.”
On the same day, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly hosted an orientation program for newly elected legislators.
“While many of us have served in this house before, it was during a time when Jammu and Kashmir was recognized as a state. The current system is different, and we must grasp how it functions and understand the powers vested in this Assembly,” Abdullah stated.
He noted that the orientation program, organized by the speaker, aimed to familiarize everyone with the procedural aspects of the new system. “The deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha also participated. I believe the insights from seasoned members will be invaluable, helping the MLAs to more effectively represent their constituents and address their concerns in future sessions,” he added.
