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I'll fight the polls as CM: Farooq

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR JULY 19. Putting to rest all speculation about his "handing over" the reins of power to his son Omar Abdullah, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today said the National Conference would fight the coming elections under his leadership thus ruling out the imposition of Governor's rule as well.

In his concluding speech at the State Assembly, Dr. Abdullah said, "It is a fact that I had decided to leave but my partymen forced me to continue as Chief Minister and did not agree to my going before the coming elections. They want to fight the elections under my leadership. But I do not want to run away from here because the party is supreme to me and I do not want leave it."

However, he did not elaborate on whether he would be the chief ministerial candidate for the elections even as he sought to make it clear that elections would be held under his dispensation. Elections, he said, would not be rigged and would be free and fair.

"We will not rig the elections,'' he said and added that the Election Commission was there to monitor the elections. "They (ECI) are free to send as many as officers and even the army we do not have objection,'' he added.

Dr. Abdullah complimented the members for putting up a brave fight in strengthening democracy in the State.

The Speaker, Abdul Ahad Vakil, said that the imposition of Governor's rule was the prerogative of the State Government. The Assembly would not be dissolved, it would complete its term.

Good beginning on autonomy

Earlier, replying to a question Dr. Abdullah dispelled the impression that the appointment of the former Union Law Minister, Arun Jaitley, as the emissary to talk to the State Government would not help the issue of autonomy.

"It is a good beginning as the party which has always been talking about abrogation of Article 370 has now agreed to talk on the issue,'' he said.

Mr. Jaitley had been appointed by the Government of India and not by the BJP.

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