Feel free to consult me in running ‘half state’: Kejriwal to Omar Abdullah

As Omar Abdullah is set to take charge as Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir, the former Chief Minister of Delhi and national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal, has a message for Omar after extending support to the government with its lone legislator from the valley: feel free to consult him in running a ‘half state’.

Kejriwal offered his assistance to Abdullah, noting the challenges of governing with limited powers, drawing parallels between the status of Delhi as a “half state” and the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

He mentioned that Abdullah could consult him if faced with difficulties in managing the region, as Kejriwal himself has experience running a government with restricted authority in Delhi for a decade.

A rally in Doda on Sunday was held to acknowledge the election of Mehraj Malik, AAP’s first-ever member of the Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. Kejriwal, addressing the gathering in what was his first public rally in the region, called upon Abdullah to assign Malik a meaningful role in his government, allowing the AAP representative to contribute effectively to the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kejriwal also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, contrasting their governance styles. He remarked on his own efforts to provide essential services such as education, healthcare, electricity, and water at no cost to residents of Delhi, emphasising the social welfare initiatives undertaken by the AAP government. He highlighted his commitment to enhancing the lives of women in Delhi, reiterating a pledge to deposit Rs 1,000 into the bank accounts of every woman in the national capital.

Kejriwal further commented on the political implications of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, suggesting that the election results, particularly the BJP’s potential to be contained at 240 seats, would signal a need for Modi to refocus his efforts on better serving the nation.