Will not contest polls in J&K till statehood is restored: Omar Abdullah

Omar, a former union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, made it clear he would continue to work for his party NC and people of Jammu and Kashmir

Upset over downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir to the status of a Union Territory following abrogation of Article 370, former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he will not contest assembly elections till full statehood is restored.

However, Omar, a former union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, made it clear he would continue to work for his party National Conference (NC) and people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"I have been leader of the assembly of the state. In its time the most empowered assembly. I cannot and will not be a member of what is now one of the