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Josy Joseph in Srinagar
Differences between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and son Omar Abdullah over political and family issues have forced the younger Abdullah to move out of his father's Gupkar Road residence.
Sources told rediff.com that the Union minister of state for external affairs and his wife Payal moved two doors away from the chief minister's official residence, into a house that used to be occupied by the Inspector General of Police, Ashok Bhan.
The government house had been lying vacant for sometime after Bhan was moved to Udhampur as the new chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Academy.
Omar Abdullah, however, denied all talk of differences as rubbish and gave different reasons for moving out of his father's house.
He told rediff.com that the chief minister's house did not have enough space. "Fourteen of us were living under the same roof," he said. "Except in the media, there is no rift between us."
"If there were rifts, how is it that I go to my father's house almost every day? I have only extended our home a bit ahead on the same road," he said.
Omar said the 14 members of the Abdullah family had only three bedrooms in the Gupkar Road house.
In Kashmir, it is customary for parents and children to live under the same roof, even after the children get married.
One of Omar's sisters, who is married to a local businessman, also lives in the Gupkar Road house with her children.
The younger Abdullah also denied rumours, among them of differences between his wife and his sisters.
However, it is clear that the generational transition that is taking place in the National Conference has not gone down well in the Abdullah family, as well as in the party.
Farooq Abdullah has not been very active on the campaign front. Before the first phase, Farooq addressed less than five meetings. In fact, on September 16, on the day of the first phase of voting, Farooq was golfing all alone late into evening at the Royal Springs, the controversial golf course in Srinagar that he helped set up.
Omar said his father was 'just relaxing'. "Now that he has handed over the reigns to me, I am running the campaign and he has more time. Let him enjoy," he said.
This rift has also seemingly spread to the party.
During the ticket distribution, though it was Farooq and his old guard who dominated, the candidates' list reveals the rift.
After former Cabinet member PL Handoo died, the chief minister had assured his son-in-law, Raman Mattoo, the NC nomination from Haba Kadal constituency of Srinagar. At the last minute, however, Omar put his foot down against Raman.
Raman Mattoo is now contesting as an independent from Haba Kadal.
For the Lolab Valley constituency, Omar had tried his best to get Nasir Mir Sogami -- his parliamentary secretary -- the nomination. But, Farooq prevailed and his Minister of State for Law Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, who was assassinated more than a week back, was given the ticket.
It was not just Omar who supported Sogami, but also 36 of the 44 NC delegates from the constituency.
It would be interesting to note how things develop after the election results are out. Omar has already aired in public his view that age and experience alone are not reasons enough for someone to be in the Cabinet. His remark, put in context, was directed towards Pirsada Ghulam Ahmed Shah, an old guard of the NC.
It is to be seen if leaders like Pirsada would be accommodated in the Cabinet, if the NC comes back to power.
Omar says it is natural for any system to be 'reluctant to change'.
He pointed out that for 25 years, having been used to Farooq Abdullah's style of functioning, leaders would be 'little apprehensive' of his leadership.
"My interest is the interest of the National Conference. Everything else comes after that," he said. "I am guided by my instincts. When I am wrong, he [Farooq Abdullah] corrects me," Omar said about his father.
"If I had a major difference with him [Farooq Abdullah], he would have thrown me out of the house. And I would be sitting on the road," Omar added.
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