SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra challenged Jammu and Kashmir Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma to resign and seek a fresh electoral mandate to test the BJP’s support in the Jammu region.
Sadhotra made the remarks while speaking to reporters after inaugurating a National Conference sub-office opposite Maharaja Hari Singh Park in Jammu city along with party Provincial President Rattan Lal Gupta.
Referring to Sharma’s call for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resignation, Sadhotra questioned the BJP’s record on its commitments regarding restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the BJP had made commitments on the floor of Parliament and before the Supreme Court on statehood, and questioned what steps had been taken to fulfil those assurances.
Sadhotra also criticised the existing administrative arrangement in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the Business Rules were yet to be cleared despite the BJP being in power at the Centre.
He alleged that the situation had resulted in uncertainty and what he described as “dual governance”, claiming that the elected government was being denied adequate space to discharge its responsibilities.
Sadhotra said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were facing concerns related to employment, security, economic opportunities, agriculture and livelihoods, and accused the BJP of focusing on political rhetoric instead of addressing these issues.
Defending Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, he said the Chief Minister was working despite the prevailing challenges and had continued to raise issues concerning different regions and sections of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is easy to sit in opposition and make allegations. The real test is to seek the people’s mandate,” Sadhotra said, challenging Sharma to resign and contest an election to establish whether the BJP retained the level of support it claimed in the 2024 Assembly elections.
The BJP had won 29 seats in the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, according to the National Conference statement.
Speaking on the occasion, Rattan Lal Gupta said the National Conference had accepted the people’s mandate with humility and remained committed to the restoration of the rights, dignity and democratic institutions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Gupta said the party’s government was functioning under difficult circumstances and facing challenges arising from the existing constitutional and administrative arrangement.
He said Omar Abdullah had remained accessible to the public and continued to raise issues affecting different regions and sections of society.
Sadhotra and Gupta called upon party workers to remain united, disciplined and connected with the people, while urging them to strengthen the National Conference’s organisational network at the grassroots level and intensify public outreach.
They said the newly inaugurated sub-office would provide an additional platform for party workers and the public to maintain regular interaction on issues of public concern.
Several senior National Conference leaders, office-bearers and workers attended the inauguration.
