National Conference leaders on Sunday said they were trying to convince former chief minister Omar Abdullah to contest the upcoming Assembly elections, apparently floating a trial balloon to gauge public opinion before he chooses to break his vow.

Omar, the NC vice-president, and his rival, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, had vowed not to contest Assembly elections until statehood was restored to Jammu and Kashmir.

NC leaders Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, the Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, and Nasir Aslam Wani, the party’s Valley chief, on Sunday said they wanted Omar to contest.

They made the announcement at a public rally in Ganderbal in the presence of Omar and Anantnag Lok Sabha member Mian Altaf, who is from Ganderbal district.

Omar has not reacted to their announcement.

“We want, in fact Ganderbal wants, and I am the member Parliament, that Omar sahab should be our representative. Omar sahab says he won’t contest,” Ruhullah said.

Ganderbal is part of the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat and has been a family pocket borough of the Abdullahs for decades.

“Omar sahab has to be convinced that what you said (not to contest) is right. Your stand is right but it is our compulsion, not yours, that this state should tomorrow be in the hands of the one who will safeguard our dignity, in those hands who can fight tomorrow against these powers,” Ruhullah said.

“You don’t have to contest elections only but as chief minister of this state tomorrow, you will lead us, fight our war, fight for our rights.”

Ruhullah said the party would try to convince Omar for “our own good” and the question of where he would contest from was secondary.

Earlier, NC president Farooq Abdullah had said that since Omar was not contesting, he would.