LC polls not discussed at meeting with Omar: Rana

The ruling National Conference in said the issue of upcoming LC polls was not discussed between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and rebel BJP MLAs.

Jammu: The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday categorically said the issue of upcoming Legislative Council polls was not discussed at a meeting between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and rebel BJP MLAs. The legislators raised certain development issues at the meeting yesterday, Devender Singh Rana, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, said.

He denied media reports that the rebel BJP MLAs, led by Chaman Lal Gupta, had raised the issue of LC elections to be held under the Panchayat quota and extended their support to NC nominees at the meeting. According to reports, the MLAs had refused to support candidates of the Congress, a partner in coalition government in the state. The NC could only accept support of these rebel MLAs if it was extended to candidates of the coalition -- Sham Lal Bhagat of Congress and NC`s Shenaz Ganai, Rana said. "The issue of ensuing Legislative Council polls was not discussed at the meeting. Only certain developmental issues were raised by the legislators," the senior NC leader said. PTI