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| Amid Cong’s cold shoulder, CM Omar to join NC campaign | | Nagrota Bypoll | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 5: Even as its uneasy ally Congress continues to maintain a visible distance from canvassing, the National Conference (NC) is set to intensify its campaign for the high-stakes Nagrota Assembly byelection. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to address his first public rally in support of the party’s candidate, Shamim Begum, later this week.
Provincial president of the NC, Rattan Lal Gupta, confirmed that Omar Abdullah will address a rally on Thursday, marking his formal entry into the campaign trail. “The Chief Minister will lead the party’s campaign to seek public support for Shamim Begum,” Gupta said, adding that Omar’s participation will significantly boost the party’s prospects in the constituency.
For several days, speculation had been rife that the Chief Minister might skip active campaigning in Nagrota, given the Congress’ subdued posture and visible friction within the coalition. However, the NC has now officially announced that Omar Abdullah will personally spearhead efforts to consolidate voter support ahead of polling day.
Party insiders view the Chief Minister’s participation as a signal of NC’s renewed determination to retain its influence in the Jammu region, particularly at a time when the opposition space is witnessing fluid political equations and coalition uncertainty.
As reported earlier, just a few days are left for the end of the canvassing for the Nagrota byelection. the Congress is yet to decide whether it will campaign jointly with its coalition partner, the National Conference (NC), in the constituency.
While the ruling NC has already kick-started its campaign, the Congress has so far refrained from deputing any leader to canvass for Shamim Begum, the NC candidate from the seat.
Highly placed sources within the Congress revealed that a majority of party leaders favour maintaining a distance from the campaign and allowing the NC to contest independently.
“The feeling within the party is that the National Conference should handle the campaign for its candidate on its own, as agreed under the coalition arrangement,” a senior leader said.
In the 2024 Assembly elections, Congress candidate Balbir Singh had secured 5,979 votes from Nagrota.
However, the Congress high command’s recent decision to stay out of the bypoll has sparked unease among local leaders and raised fresh questions about the strength of its alliance with the NC. |
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