Why did he change his decision of not contesting the assembly elections? Omar Abdullah gave this answer

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice President of National Conference Omar Abdullah came on the stage of ‘Panchayat Aaj Tak’ and talked about the upcoming assembly elections. He also shared his views on the situation after the removal of 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. During the Lok Sabha elections, Omar Abdullah had said that he would not contest the assembly elections, but now he is contesting from two seats. Why did he change his decision? On this, he said, ‘I had decided this and I stood by that decision till the last moment. But people asked me the same question through mail and messages, through meetings that when you will campaign during the elections and you will ask for votes for that assembly which you yourself do not want to be a part of. So how will you ask for votes from us? I did not have an answer to this question. That is why I decided to contest the elections.

He further said, ‘Secondly, I believe that this is not the assembly we want nor do we deserve such an assembly. But through this assembly we can hope to reach that assembly. The central government has promised that after the elections, the full statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored.