NC rules out post-poll alliance with BJP

Srinagar, December 22

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday ruled out a post-poll alliance with the BJP given its stand on issues like Article 370, Uniform Civil Code and Babri Masjid as also with any other party.

Talking to reporters on the eve of results to the 87-member state Assembly, he said, “Clearly, no single party is going to form a government on its own. What remains to be seen is how close to these so-called exit polls, the actual number stacks up.”

Omar expressed hope that his party will put up a credible show and said “please understand where we are coming from. In the Parliament elections, I held three Assembly constituencies — all three in Srinagar. Two of them were badly hit by floods. If we extrapolate that result with the resultant post-flood anger, perhaps I should have only one constituency,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of his party allying with the BJP to form the next government, he said it was inconceivable for his National Conference to get into alliance with that party in view of the latter’s stand on issues which are important to the people of the state.

“The BJP went silent on Article 370 (during the election campaign) but has not dissociated from its stand on it, it has not dissociated from Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue, it has not dissociated from Common (Uniform) Civil Code. Right till now, you have a Prime Minister who is silent about the issue of forcible conversions that is going on in some parts of the country.

“These are issues National Conference will find very difficult to reconcile itself to, should the BJP require support from the National Conference. I don’t see a situation like that emerging,” he said.

Omar said no lines of communication were open between National Conference and other parties in the state for a post-poll alliance.

“There are no lines of communication between NC and BJP, or with PDP or Congress,” he added. — PTI