Creating fresh tensions with a key political partner, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has rejected the Congress party’s strong criticism of Electronic Voting Machines, and aligned with the BJP’s stance:
“It’s not good to celebrate election victories but blame EVMs for defeats. When your party secures over a hundred Parliamentary seats through these same EVMs and hails it as a triumph, you can’t suddenly switch positions months later and declare… we’re skeptical of these EVMs because the results aren’t matching our expectations,” Abdullah stated in an exclusive PTI interview on Friday.
When confronted about sounding similar to a BJP spokesperson, Abdullah exclaimed “Heaven forbid!” He continued:
“It’s simply that… truth must be acknowledged.”
He explained that his positions stem from principles rather than party allegiances, pointing to his backing of initiatives like the Central Vista to demonstrate his autonomous thinking.
“Despite widespread opposition, I believe building new Parliament premises was a smart decision. The existing structure had become outdated and inadequate,” he stated.
He suggested that parties lacking faith in the voting system should refrain from participating in elections.
“If you’re concerned about EVMs, those concerns should remain constant,” he remarked while addressing whether he believes the opposition, particularly Congress, is misguided in its EVM-focused campaign.
Following electoral setbacks in Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies, Congress has raised questions about EVM reliability and election results, advocating for paper ballot restoration.
Abdullah’s statements further strain relations between his National Conference party and Congress, which were electoral partners during Jammu and Kashmir’s September Assembly polls. NC insiders have suggested privately that Congress underperformed in campaign efforts, leaving NC to shoulder most responsibilities. Nevertheless, NC secured 42 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while Congress obtained six. The chief minister stressed that voting machines remain unchanged regardless of results, and parties shouldn’t use them as a convenient explanation for losses.
“Voter preferences change – sometimes they choose you, sometimes they don’t,” he explained, referencing his own experience of losing Lok Sabha elections but winning assembly polls later. “I never questioned the machines,” he emphasized.
