SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for India’s opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) would be an advantage for its arch rival Congress and the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
“There was always this possibility that with the elevation of Narendra Modi, some of the allies in the NDA would be extremely uncomfortable. I believe now the challenge for BJP is, as they gradually lose allies, they will have to figure out whether Narendra Modi can deliver that many seats.
“Because if not, then their (BJP) dream of occupying the treasury benches in Parliament will remain unfulfilled,” Omar told reporters, according to the PTI.
Abdullah was reacting to Janata Dal (United)’s announcement of parting ways with the NDA. The JDU became the fourteenth (14th) party to leave the grouping.
The Chief Minister, whose party National Conference (NC) severed ties with NDA in 2003, said: “You have seen the Chief Minister of Orissa, he has made a similar statement. The Chief Minister of West Bengal…They are all previous allies of NDA who will not go back to tying up with the BJP because of the face they are projecting.
“So clearly, with this sort of scenario, it is advantage UPA.”
