File photo of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
With the announcement ofthe poll schedule for Jammu and Kashmir by the Election Commission today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the ruling National Conference(NC) was more keen on rehabilitating the flood-affected people before "anyone else's political rehabilitation".
"The announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir effectively brings the curtain down on my first term as Chief Minister now that the MCC applies in the state. It has been an honour & a privilege to work for the people of my state. Through this term, I have done my best to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Omar wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter.
"While the NC was keen to rehabilitate the flood-affected people before anyone else's political rehabilitation, the EC felt differently," he said in another tweet.
"Now with election dates announced, there is no question of not contesting the forthcoming polls. We will put our best foot forward," he said.
The Election Commission announced a five-phase election to the state assembly beginning, November 25.
"It is now for the people to decide whether my efforts were good enough and their verdict is the only thing that matters, the rest is noise," he said.
He said his party would work to "expose parties like People's Democratic Party or PDP who have made it their stated mission to capitalise on the post flood misery of the people."