NEW DELHI, June 18: After Sharad Pawar, the National Conference president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has also declined to be the joint Opposition’s presidential candidate.
He turned down the offer saying that J&K still needed him to “help navigate these uncertain times” and that he has “a lot more active politics” ahead of him.
“I am honoured to have had my name proposed as a possible joint opposition candidate for the office of President of India by Mamata Banerjee Sahiba. Subsequent to Mamata didi proposing my name, I have received a number of calls from opposition leaders offering their support for my candidature,” Abdullah said in a statement on Saturday.
“I have taken a few days to discuss this unexpected development with my family and senior colleagues. I am deeply touched by the support that I’ve received and honoured to have been considered for the highest office in the country.”
The former chief minister, however, decided to withdraw his name from consideration, saying his efforts were required in the Union Territory. “I believe that Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a critical juncture and my efforts are required to help navigate these uncertain times,” he said in the statement.
“I have a lot more active politics ahead of me and look forward to making a positive contribution in the service of J&K and the country. Therefore I would like to respectfully withdraw my name from consideration and I look forward to supporting the joint opposition consensus candidate,” the statement added.
Abdullah said he was “very grateful to Mamata didi for proposing my name.” “I’m also grateful to all the senior leaders who offered me their support,” he said. Abdullah’s refusal to be considered as a presidential candidate is a setback to the Opposition. He is the second political leader to withdraw his name from consideration as a joint candidate for the post of president. Earlier, Nationalist Congress Party chief and veteran politician Sharad Pawar had declined to be the presidential candidate of the Opposition.
(Manas Dasgupta)