Setting the tone for the Poonch-Haveli bypoll, National Conference president Omar Abdullah today said that it was not only important in terms of political strategy but will also determine many important factors for the Assembly elections.

He said the result of the bypoll will determine whether the General Elections will be held on time. “The party strongly feels that this bypoll will have a direct bearing on the timing of the next Assembly elections,” Omar said during an informal chat with mediapersons here today. The interaction session at the Press Club was organised by party MLC Devinder Singh Rana.

In case the Congress wins the election, there is a strong possibility that the Assembly elections may be advanced, he said. “But in case the NC wins the seat, the elections will be held on schedule,” said Omar. “My logic tells me that next general elections will be held early because of the Amarnath Yatra and Ramzan,” he said.

Omar also admitted that even though the constituency has remained his party’s bastion, it wasn’t going to be easy to fight either. “We have not won the last poll with a huge margin... there are many electoral patterns in the segment,” he said.

Omar, however, did not disclose the name of the National Conference candidate for the bypoll. “We are looking into all these aspects and therefore are not in a hurry,” he said.

But soon after I finalise the candidate, the reins of the campaign will be handed over to Dr sahib (Farooq Abdullah). Reiterating that his father would be the next Chief Ministerial candidate of the party, Omar also chose to dispel the doubts in political circles that “things were not smooth between them”.

... contd.