People have favoured the NC-Congress alliance

ELECTIONS TO THE Jammu and Kashmir assembly got over with the third phase of polling on October 1.

- TARIQ BHAT

Former chief minister and chairperson of the National Conference Omar Abdullah appeared confident about the success of the alliance he had with the Congress, although he conceded that the BJP managed to put up a tight fight. In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Omar said that the alliance with the Congress was the strongest possible message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Calling the Awami Ittehad Party and its head, Engineer Rashid, BJP's proxies, Omar predicted that the AIP would not be able to repeat the success it registered in the Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts: Q/ What is your assessment after campaigning across Jammu and Kashmir?

Q/ What is your assessment after campaigning across Jammu and Kashmir?

A/ The reports are positive, with some closely contested seats. The trend shows that people favoured the National Conference-Congress alliance. The BJP’s attempts to divide and engineer results may not succeed.

Q/ Was this your biggest political test yet?

A/ Every election is a test. The 2002 assembly election was a test. My election as president of the National Conference was a test. The 2004 Parliament election was a test because I contested against Mufti sahib (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed), who was then chief minister. The 2014 Parliament election was a test because I fought it as part of the ruling alliance in the aftermath of the floods in J&K. We knew the mood was against us. We lost all Parliament seats that year, and there was simmering anger against the National Conference. That was a tougher test.

Q/ A lot is riding on your alliance with the Congress.