Polls may pave way to restored statehood, says ex-chief minister

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said the desire among the people in the territory to vote in the upcoming assembly election is strong amid hopes of restoration of statehood.

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The region has a history of separatism and election boycott.

Sitting in his home office in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Abdullah said in an interview with The Sunday Times: “They (people of Kashmir) are not happy with what they have seen over the last few years, but I think they are approaching these elections with an enthusiasm that suggests that they believe change will flow from these elections."

The leader of regional outfit National Conference, Mr Abdullah comes from a long line of politicians, with his father Farooq Abdullah and party-founder grandfather Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah both former chief ministers.

The party is in an alliance with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's Congress party in the election for the 90-member assembly.