Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said NC leader Agha Ruhullah “killed himself politically” by withdrawing from the Budgam bypoll campaign, adding that his decision was meant as a message to the party but ended up hurting him more than anyone else.Speaking to reporters, Omar used the English phrase “you cut your nose to spite your face” to describe Ruhullah’s move.
“Ruhullah killed himself to give me a message,” he said. “But remember, the person who has won from there will never let Ruhullah rise again.”
He said Ruhullah’s political future in Budgam will now depend entirely on whether he can rebuild his space.“Only Ruhullah can decide if he will be able to rise again in Budgam or not,” he added. “Whatever happened, happened.”
Omar admitted that NC knew the contest would be difficult, even before the campaign began.“In Budgam, people do not vote only based on work,” he said. “There is a large section that does not vote on issues at all. Many voters make their choice quietly, behind the curtain. So I already knew it wouldn’t be easy for us.”
He said the outcome was shaped by a mix of silent voting, internal dissatisfaction and shifting political moods. “We accept the verdict and move forward,” he said.(KNS)
