J&K Assembly Elections 2024: Omar Abdullah To Contest From Ganderbal Constituency

Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and vice president of the National Conference (NC), will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Ganderbal. This decision was announced by Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, a Lok Sabha member, and Nasir Aslam Wani, NC provincial president, in the presence of Omar Abdullah and senior NC leader Mian Altaf Ahmad.

Omar Abdullah's candidacy announcement took place in Nuner village, Ganderbal district. During this visit, political activist Sayim Mustafa joined the party. Mustafa had previously contested for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat but was defeated by Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.

About Omar Abdullah

Omar Abdullah served as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2015. He has also been a three-time Lok Sabha MP and represented Ganderbal (2008-2014) and Beerwah (2014-2019) in the Assembly. In 2002, he lost the Ganderbal seat to Qazi Mohammad Afzal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Election Commission of India has issued a notice for the first phase of the three-phased Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The first phase will see voting in 24 Assembly segments across the Valley and Jammu division on September 18.

Election Schedule

The second phase of voting is scheduled for September 25, with the final phase on October 1. Vote counting will occur on October 4, concluding the entire election process by October 6.

Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected government since June 2018 when the BJP withdrew from its coalition with Mehbooba Mufti's PDP. Following this, Governor's rule was imposed by then-governor Satya Pal Malik, who subsequently dissolved the Assembly.

On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated, leading to Jammu and Kashmir being bifurcated into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

"I have decided to contest from Ganderbal," Omar Abdullah stated during his visit to Nuner village. This marks a significant shift from his earlier stance of not participating in elections while J-K remained a union territory.

The announcement about Omar Abdullah's candidacy signifies a notable development in J-K politics as it prepares for its first Assembly elections since becoming a union territory.