Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday ruled out post-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party 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.”
Mr. Abdullah 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.
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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.
Mr. Abdullah said no lines of communication were open between National Conference and other parties in the state for a post-poll alliance.
Lauds Vajpayee
“There are no lines of communication between NC and BJP, or with PDP or Congress,” he added. About his tweet in support of Bharat Ratna for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mr. Abdullah said it should not be seen as if he was cosying up to BJP.
“Does any one really believe that one tweet can make an alliance? Please don't read more into that (tweet).
“I don't think anybody is foolish to believe that because I want or believe that Vajpayee Sahib should be given the Bharat Ratna, all other aspects will be forgotten and National Conference and BJP, in a very Bollywood style, go running towards each other and hug in a field of mustard.
“Neither me, nor my father (Farooq Abdullah) has been quiet on this. We have maintained that it would have been a good gesture on part of UPA to confer Bharat Ratna on Vajpayee. I have deep regards for Vajpayee,” he said.
He said he had pitched for the highest civilian award on Twitter because of Vajpayee's birthday on December 25. “It will be fitting for the current government to recognise Vajpayee Sahib's contribution with Bharat Ratna.”
Asked if NC will ally with PDP, Mr. Abdullah ruled out such a possibility.
On a possible alliance with Congress, he merely said that can be discussed only after the results are out on Tuesday.
“If the exit polls are correct, NC and Congress will not have the numbers. So, let us wait till tomorrow,” he added.
Asked if he regretted being in coalition with Congress over the past six years, Mr. Abdullah replied in the negative saying “NC-Congress coalition was a result of the post-poll situation in 2008”.
