‘Must Have Done Something Right’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah Congratulates PM Modi on 25 Years, Corners Centre on CEC Row

In a politically nuanced interaction with reporters in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 consecutive years as head of government, acknowledging the rare electoral endurance required to sustain power across both state and national arenas. However, Abdullah swiftly pivoted to mounting political controversies, sharply cornering the central government over allegations surrounding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and raising alarm over the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in the Union Territory.

Acknowledging Modi’s 25-Year Electoral Record

Marking the milestone of PM Modi completing a quarter-century in continuous executive governance—spanning his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister beginning in October 2001 through his prime ministership since 2014—Abdullah extended formal congratulations on behalf of his administration and colleagues. “You must have done something right for people to keep voting for you repeatedly,” Abdullah remarked. He noted that maintaining an unbroken winning record across 25 years first at the state level and then at the Centre is “no small feat,” highlighting the sheer political scale of Modi’s longevity at the helm of power.

‘Why No Defamation?’: Abdullah Targets Centre Over CEC Controversy

The Chief Minister’s tone turned combative when asked about the raging nationwide row over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission’s functioning. Citing media investigative reports detailing documented dissents by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi across multiple occasions, Abdullah challenged the government to explain why no legal action had been initiated if the allegations were unfounded. “If this is all fabrication, then why don’t you take action against them? At least there would have been defamation. But it was not done,” he asked. Confirming that his party stands in alignment with the broader opposition, Abdullah reiterated that demonstrations in Delhi and across states are part of a coordinated action plan finalized by the INDIA bloc.

Warning Over SIR and Delimitation Echoes in Jammu & Kashmir

Expressing serious concern over the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral lists in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference vice-president warned that the exercise could be leveraged to tilt electoral dynamics. Drawing a direct parallel with past restructuring, Abdullah cautioned, “We have not forgotten delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir. Delimitation was aimed to benefit the BJP. The same can happen with SIR”. He emphasized that the Union Territory is watching legal developments closely, expressing hope that ongoing scrutiny in the Supreme Court over Form 6 procedural changes will safeguard genuine electors and prevent arbitrary voter deletions from the register.