Won’t contest for NC chief post: Farooq
Party to hold polls for top post on Dec 5, 85-year-old Abdullah will continue to lead the PAGD
19, 2022
SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday announced his decision to not contest the upcoming party presidential election, triggering widespread speculation that his son, Omar, who is currently the party’s vice-president, is likely to succeed him.
“I will not be contesting for the post of president any longer. The elections for the post will be held on December 5. It is time for the new generation to take over the responsibilities,” the former chief minister told news agency PTI. “Anyone from the party can contest for the post. It is a democratic exercise,” he added.
NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said Farooq was adamant not to review his decision even as his party colleagues tried to convince him to continue. In a statement, he said the party’s general secretary has been tasked with completing the election process on December 5. “Until that time… (Farooq) continues as president of the party,” the statement said. While the immediate reason behind his decision is not yet clear, party functionaries close to the 85-year-old said it was due to health concerns.
A NC leader said that Farooq Abdullah is aging and wants to pass the baton to the younger generation. “Despite his health issues, Farooq Abdullah is trying to lead his party. However, his health issues could have forced him to step back.”
He will keep guiding the party leaders. He is the most respected leader in the party. Whether he remains the president or not, he is the party’s tallest leader,” the leader added.
His son, Omar Abdullah, said that Farooq had not resigned as the party’s president, but had only informed the party that he will not seek re-election to the post when elections are held.
“These elections were anyway going to be conducted in December this year. He will continue as president until the election process is completed. I appeal to all my colleagues to seriously consider filing their nominations for the post of the president so the best person from among us can steer the party through these turbulent times,” he said.
Soon after Farooq’s announcement, NC general secretary Ali Mohamad Sagar issued notification for the elections for post of the party president scheduled for December 5.
It was in 1981 that Abdullah took over the region’s oldest party which played a significant role in J&K’S accession to India in 1947 and in ensuring a semiautonomous status for the region in the 1980s.
He has been president of the party from 1981, barring the period between 2002 to 2009, when Omar Abdullah was party president.
In recent years, Farooq has proven to be a strong voice of the NC and other traditional mainstream parties following the abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to J&K and bifurcation of the state into two Union territories on August 5, 2019. He was also detained and booked under the Public Safety Act by the administration amid fears of protests. The Supreme Court also heard a petition against his “illegal detention”.
Besides serving as NC president, Farooq is heading a fiveparty alliance – People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) – seeking restoration of Article 370. Abdullah intends to continue to lead the alliance. “Yes, I will continue to lead the alliance,” Abdullah told PTI .
Party leaders, however, said Farooq will continue to play an active role in party affairs.
“For everybody, it was a surprise when Farooq Abdullah announced that he will not contest the election for party president. And once Farooq Abdullah takes any decision, it’s very difficult to convince him to take it back due to his temperament,” a second senior NC leader said.
“I hope Farooq sahib will continue to play an active role in the activities of the party,” he added.
With the NC being out of power since 2014, the party is hoping to revive itself in the Union territory’s first assembly elections since August 2019. While the dates are yet to be announced, party leaders said they are relying on Farooq’s leadership as he is also respected by his opponents. In the last six months, Farooq travelled to remote areas of J&K and held rallies in a bid to revive the party’s fortunes.