Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Election: National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah said on Friday that it was not an easy decision to form a pre-poll alliance with the Congress for the Jammu-Kashmir assembly election. He said that his party had to sacrifice seats where it was confident of winning.

"It wasn't easy to enter into a pre-poll alliance as the party had to sacrifice seats where it was confident of winning. The outcome and impact of the decision were witnessed as soon as the alliance was finalised. The outcome was witnessed when the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stepped away from campaigning," said Omar while speaking to party workers as quoted by news agency PTI.

The former chief minister also added that it is not his fight or the fight of his leaders but a collective fight that will bring respite to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The people have faced several issues with some languishing in jails while some being harassed. NC has made it clear in its manifesto that PSA will be completely removed from J&K if elected to power," Omar said as quoted by news agency PTI.

The NC and Congress have formed a pre-poll alliance, and as per the arrangement, out of the 90 assembly seats, the NC will fight 52 and Congress 31 assembly seats. The two parties left two seats, one for the CPI M and the other for the Panthers Party. 

Earlier this week, National Conference released the first list of 18 candidates for the upcoming state assembly elections. According to a statement by the party, Retd Justice Hussnain Masoodi will contest the election from Pampore, Mohammad Khalil Bandh from Pulwama, Abdul Majeed Larmi from Anantnag West, and Khalid Najeeb Soharwardy from Doda.

Jammu and Kashmir will conduct its first election since its status was changed from a state to a Union Territory by the central government in 2019. The Union Territory will hold polls in three phases: the first on September 18, followed by September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4, as announced by the Election Commission of India.

 (With input from agencies)