Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference (NC), recently expressed skepticism about seeking the restoration of Article 370 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the very party responsible for its abrogation. In the aftermath of the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, where the NC-Congress alliance emerged victorious, Abdullah asserted that while it may be "foolish" to expect the BJP to reverse its own actions, his party will continue to advocate for the issue.

Abdullah emphasized that the NC's political stance regarding Article 370 remains unchanged. He stated, "We have never said that we will remain silent on Article 370 or that it is not an issue for us now." He expressed hope for a change in government that could lead to fruitful discussions about restoring rights for Jammu and Kashmir.

In his remarks, Abdullah called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill his promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was revoked in 2019 along with the abrogation of Article 370. He reiterated the NC-Congress alliance’s commitment to making the restoration of statehood a key electoral issue and remarked, "The Prime Minister is an honourable man, and I hope he lives up to his word."

Citing promises made by PM Modi during various public engagements, Abdullah expressed optimism that the restoration of statehood would happen without undue delays. He clarified that statehood should not be contingent upon the BJP forming a government in J&K, stating, "Nowhere has the BJP ever said - first there will be our government and then statehood."

The recent election results were seen by Abdullah as a strong rejection of the 2019 decision to scrap Article 370. The NC secured 42 seats in the 90-member Assembly, forming a majority with the Congress alliance. Abdullah noted that the voting patterns indicated widespread discontent with the BJP's policies, especially in Kashmir, which overwhelmingly voted against the ruling party.

Abdullah’s electoral victories in both the Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies signify a notable recovery after his loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. As J&K gears up for a new government, Abdullah stressed the importance of establishing a "healthy working relationship" with New Delhi.

Additionally, he raised concerns about the strained relationship between J&K and the current Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, urging the LG to cultivate better ties with the incoming government to facilitate a smoother governance process.