Srinagar/IBNS: A day after former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah claimed the Centre is conspiring to defeat him by fielding candidates from jail, a separatist leader behind the bars has been pitted against him in two seats of the valley which will head to polls this month.

Radical jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay will take on Omar Abdullah from the Ganderbal constituency.

Wagay has filed nominations from two seats, Ganderbal and Beerwah. His nomination papers have been accepted.

Addressing a rally in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal, Omar said as quoted by Greater Kashmir, "Earlier I had a feeling that New Delhi is constantly trying to keep me silent, but I didn’t think they will resort to such level of fielding candidates lodged in jails. In Baramulla they fielded a person (Er Rashid) against me who filed nomination from jail.

"He recorded his voice statement from jail, and got votes on emotional grounds, which led to my defeat in polls. But I didn’t take it so seriously then. I thought it was his luck and my weakness. I didn’t see it as New Delhi’s agenda."

The former Chief Minister added, " When I decided to contest elections from Ganderbal seat, I heard one more person (Sarjan Barkati) who is currently lodged in jail, has pronounced his wish to contest polls from Ganderbal seat. This struck my mind. A person who hails from Zainapora Shopian is wishing to contest polls where I’m contesting was surprised me. I smelled rat in it.

"When I discussed the matter with my party colleagues, we decided that I will contest from another seat (Beerwah, Budgam) but maintained to keep it hidden till nomination is filled. We made an announcement about this fact at the eleventh hour. We silently reached the office of Returning Officer where we completed formalities.

"Soon after I came to know another man lodged in jail has decided to contest polls from there. This is not a normal affair that people lodged in jails are being fielded against me in elections. It clearly shows that New Delhi doesn’t want me to represent my people. They want to silence me, come what may."

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Omar was defeated by Engineer Rashid, who was lodged in Tihar jail over terror funding charges.

The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1.

This is the first time Jammu and Kashmir is heading to assembly elections after the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.