SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah reached out Thursday to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti ahead of Rajya Sabha (RS) elections in J&K next week, seeking support for the governing. party’s candidate for one of four seats that his ally Congress chose not to contest, terming it “weak”. Mehbooba responded by asking NC to back some PDP-submitted bills in the assembly, including one against settlers’ eviction.“Farooq Sahib called me and asked for support. I told him we have submitted some bills in the assembly and sought support from NC for them, including the ‘anti-bulldozer’ bill to stop evictions and to regularize the land of those who have been in continuous possession for 30 years. Their houses, shops, and other properties are at stake,” Mehbooba said.Another of the bills pertains to regularization of the daily wagers’ pay. “At least regularise them, what will they do with Rs 8,000 honorarium? If they support one or two of these bills, we will think about supporting them (NC) in the Rajya Sabha (polls),” Mehbooba said.A week-long assembly session will begin October 23 in Srinagar. The four Rajya Sabha seats will go to polls on Oct 24 — this first such elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The fourth seat is considered numerically weak for NC, causing it to mobilize support. from other parties.Responding to Mehbooba’s calls, Farooq son and CM Omar Abdullah tied the bills to the “prerogative” of the Speaker. The government will decide what course to adopt when the bills are tabled, Omar said, clarifying he will “not dismiss them out of hand”. On the fourth RS seat, Omar framed it as a direct contest between NC and BJP and anyone abstaining from voting will be seen as backing the opposition party’s candidate.PDP legislator Waheed Parra, who has brought the anti-bulldozer bill, demanded a “clear commitment” from the govt. “With a full majority, NC can deliver. But instead of standing with workers and landless families, the CM hides behind excuses and procedures. The question is simple: will he back these bills or betray the people again,” Parra said.
