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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday said his chances for vice-presidentship were bleak and his son would continue to be in the NDA government.
"I don't think that the country will have both the President and the Vice-President from the minority community," Abdullah said.
He said the vice-presidential candidate was likely to be of BJP's choice. Asked whether his party had held any discussions with the NDA leadership for the same, Abdullah said, "Well with five Parliament members one should not expect that I will have the same clout as shared by Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu in NDA."
Asked whether there was any change in the political equations because of the presidential election, Abdullah said, "May be my party will like me to continue as the chief ministerial candidate."
To a question whether this implied that his son and Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah, who will be taking over as National Conference President on June 23, was unlikely to resign from the Vajpayee Cabinet, he said "Maybe, he will have to continue as the Union minister if the party desires so."
"After all it will be Omar, who will have to do the balancing act between the state and the Centre," the chief minister said.
To a question whether Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was likely to offer any 'political package' during his next visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said, "May be. It is the prerogative of the prime minister."
About the proposed meeting between separatist leaders and the prime minister, he said, "Farooq Abdullah is even ready to act as a bridge to facilitate such a meeting but let them (separatist leaders) at least shun the gun culture."
Referring to the allegations that the present spate of arrest of Hurriyat leaders were being done at his instance, the chief minister said, "I wonder when did I become so powerful. It is their deeds that lead them to jail not me."
"Eat Indian, live Indian and shout Pakistan is the mantra that the bunch of separatist leaders has been shouting. They have a different voice in Delhi and completely divergent view in Srinagar to fulfil their motives," he said.
Coverage of the election for the 11th President of India
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