NC ready to face mid-term polls in J

Srinagar, May 15: The main opposition National Conference (NC) today said it was 'ready to face any eventuality' in case of mid-term elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti's statement that mid-term polls in the state could not be ruled out, NC Chief Omar Abdullah told sources that ''it is an internal matter of the ruling coalition partners.'' The NC was ready to face any eventuality in case of mid-term elections in the state, he added.

Asked if his party would extend support to the Congress in case the alliance broke up, Mr Abdullah said, ''let that situation arise...then we will see.'' Addressing a public meeting at Magam in central Kashmir district of Badgam yesterday, the PDP Chief had reportedly said mid-term polls in the state could not be ruled out.

Ms Mufti said some ''dramatic changes'' were expected in the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the second round-table conference, convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, here on May 25.

Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, at the same meeting, alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to create differences within PDP-Congress coalition.

''The coalition has stood the test of time and will not be impacted by the nefarious designs of certain individuals,'' he said.

Mr Baig claimed that some individuals in the Congress were working against the spirit of coalition.

''But, these attempts will be foiled. If the PDP, at any stage, finds that its agenda was getting diluted, the party will prefer people over power,'' he said.

UNI