Srinagar, Aug 18 : National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that his party is not counting the number of seats to be won in the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, it is the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) who always does.

“We are not counting winning seats in the forthcoming Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir, it is BJP who always does”, Omar told media persons during a function in Srinagar on Sunday.

In reply to a question, Omar said that his party is doing preparations and will announce candidates after notification for the first phase is announced on August 20. He said, “It is just two days since the date for the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir has been announced”.

The notification for the first phase of Assembly election is scheduled to be announced on August 20 and the polling is scheduled to take place on September 18.

Asked that BJP has called Omar overconfident about the elections, Omar said “Over confident example has been established by the BJP”.

“Who said the “Charso Par” (plus 400) during the Parliament elections and Article 370. It was the BJP’s words. But their vehicle stopped at 240”, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said.

“It would be better if BJP did not talk of overconfident”, he said and added “We just say that we are hopeful people will support us and we will be given a chance to run the government”.

Omar said that “We are not counting the seats. BJP always counts the numbers in Jammu and Kashmir and even in 2014 they had put their number at 45 seats”.

Meanwhile, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator from the border area of Karnah in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Javid Mirchal, joined the NC on Sunday in the presence of party President Farooq Abdullah.

Mirchal was welcomed into the party fold by Abdullah and other senior leaders.

“It is a good fortune for the National Conference that Javid Mirchal who is closely associated with the people of Karnah joined the party”, Omar said.

UNI