
National Conference chief Omar Abdullah8217;s fate will be decided tomorrow. To ensure victory, the party reportedly undertook here today a silent door-to-door campaign to woo voters.
Omar expects a close fight against People8217;s Democratic Party8217;s Qazi Mohammad Afzal. Both parties have dubbed Ganderbal polls a 8216;8216;test case8217;8217; for the Election Commission for the PDP has charged NC with misusing state machinery. After trying to pull in crowds for the last one week, NC had finally managed a 3,000-strong gathering on Sunday.
For NC, Omar alleged the PDP 8216;8216;bullied NC cadre and crossed all limits of decency8217;8217; in Ganderbal. His party has lodged a complaint with the EC. The rival parties have now urged the EC to depute more observers and ensure a free and fair poll.
The general impression from Lar to Barsoo localities favours the PDP. From Wakoora to Tulmul localities, however, the NC has a distinct edge over its rival. The PDP has gone all out to convince people against voting for Omar, who they call an 8216;8216;outsider8217;8217;. Omar is a Srinagar resident.
The latest trend from across Ganderbal shows that low to moderate turnout may mark polling here tomorrow. In certain localities, people have vowed to boycott the process.
Weighed down by anti-incumbency, NC has lost some old grassroots support to the PDP. Omar8217;s chief agent Nasir Sogami, however, is optimistic.
He said his party has regained popular support after vigorous campaigning. 8216;8216;Unemployment is the key problem here. We have promised a job to every family without a government employee as its member.8217;8217;