Farooq contesting fourth election in four months

Farooq Abdullah, Rajya Sabha member who filed his nomination as the National Conference (NC) candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Friday, will be contesting his fourth election in four months.

In December, Abdullah had contested for two constituencies in the state legislative assembly elections. Not only did he win from both — Hazratbal and Sonwar — he also willingly gave up his claim for chief ministership in favour of his son Omar Abdullah.

In February, however, Abdullah plunged into the electoral battle again — this time as NC candidate for Rajya Sabha.

Abdullah has since resigned from both the Assembly seats and after his likely success in the Lok Sabha, would have to resign from the Rajya Sabha as well.

Why is Farooq Abdullah opting to become the perpetual election warrior?

To this, senior leaders of the National Conference admit that Abdullah’s charisma remains unmatched by any other leader, and the party has no option but to back him as a winning horse in crisis.

Srinagar is to Abdullahs and the National Conference what Rae Bareli and Amethi is to Congress and the Gandhi family. The constituency has sent Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah and latter’s mother Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah (in 1977) to the Lok Sabha over the years.

National Conference was apparently apprehensive of losing the prestigious seat, in case a lightweight candidate was fielded against a formidable opponent from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mehbooba Mufti. The PDP’s candidate, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari — a former minister and a regular party-hopper — is leader of the Shias and has influence on the community’s votes.

However, analysts in Kashmir link the Farooq-again phenomenon to the rot in the party, which was set up by legendary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah 60 years ago. “The National Conference is facing an acute dearth of talent,” is the comment in the mass-based Kashmir Times, published from Jammu.

However, NC leaders say admit that the second rung leadership was yet to emerge after the 15-year long violent phase, in which the NC cadres and leaders were targeted by the pro-Pakistan militants.

“The insurgency has taken a toll of the men and morale of the party and rebuilding it would take longer than expected,” a senior political aide of Farooq Abdullah said.

“The rise of PDP, as a force in Kashmir is another reason for the limited growth of the younger leadership in the party,” a senior minister in J&K cabinet told Business Standard.

Srinagar will go to polls on May 7, in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha election.