Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has rejected the strong objections
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has rejected the strong objections raised by the Congress party, a member of the INDIA alliance, regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), thereby creating further tension within the coalition.
Following its defeat in the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress has raised concerns about the reliability of EVMs and the legitimacy of the election results, calling for a return to paper ballots. Abdullah remarked that one cannot accept election outcomes when they are favorable and then blame EVMs when the results are unfavorable.
“When over a hundred members of Parliament celebrate a victory using the same EVMs, it is inconsistent to later claim dissatisfaction with those machines when subsequent election results do not align with your expectations,” Abdullah stated in an interview with PTI. He emphasized that political parties should refrain from participating in elections if they lack confidence in the voting system.
“If there are issues with EVMs, consistency in addressing those concerns is essential,” he remarked when questioned about whether the opposition, particularly Congress, is misguided in its focus on EVMs.
When it was suggested that his comments might align him with the BJP’s perspective, Abdullah responded with ‘God forbid,’ asserting, “No, it’s simply a matter of what is right.”
He clarified that his statements are based on principles rather than party allegiance, citing his support for infrastructure initiatives like the Central Vista project as evidence of his independent viewpoint.
“Contrary to popular belief, I view the Central Vista project in Delhi as a commendable endeavor. The construction of a new Parliament building was a necessary step, as the previous one had surpassed its functional lifespan,” he stated.
Abdullah’s remarks come in the context of growing discontent within the National Conference regarding its alliance with Congress following the September Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reports indicate that officials from the National Conference (NC) expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress party, as they felt the latter did not contribute adequately during the campaign, leaving the majority of the work to the NC. Nevertheless, the NC secured 42 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while the Congress managed to obtain six.
The Chief Minister underscored that the electoral mechanisms remain unchanged regardless of the results, urging political parties not to use them as a convenient rationale for their losses.
He cited his own experience of losing in the Lok Sabha elections while achieving a majority in the assembly elections held in September. Previously, he had also called upon the Congress to clarify its position within the leadership of the INDIA Bloc and not to assume it as a given.
