FAROOQ ABDULLAH REJECTED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OFFER

New Delhi (The Quiver) : On Saturday,National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah rejected the offer to be Opposition’s presidential candidate, saying he would like to contribute to Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, the Lok Sabha MP said he was honoured that his name was proposed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a possible joint Opposition candidate but he withdrew his name from consideration.

He said, “I believe that Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a critical juncture and my efforts are required to help navigate these uncertain times. I have a lot more active politics ahead of me and look forward to making a positive contribution in the service of J&K and the country.

“Therefore I would like to respectfully withdraw my name from consideration and I look forward to supporting the joint opposition consensus candidate,” he added.

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister’s withdrawal comes days after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar turned down the offer to contest for the President post.