National Conference (NC) leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has publicly challenged the Congress party's recent objections to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following significant electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is a member of the INDIA bloc.
Omar Abdullah's comments come amid growing friction between the Congress and its allies within the India bloc, especially over the reliability of EVMs.
Omar Abdullah dismisses Congress concerns over EVM
In an interview, J&K CM Omar Abdullah dismissed Congress' complaints about EVMs and stated that “voting machines can only be a problem if you lose elections.”
Highlighting the inconsistency in the Congress' stand, Abdullah pointed out that when the Congress won over 100 seats using the same EVMs, they celebrated their victory but later questioned the machines when the results were not in their favour.
Omar Abdullah alleged, “How can you have problems with the EVMs and then continue fighting elections? If you don't trust the machines, then you shouldn't fight elections.”
“If you don't trust the machines, you shouldn't fight elections,” he said.
Congress hits back at Omar Abdullah
Reacting to Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah's comments, Congress MP Manickam Tagore emphasized that it was mainly other allies within the INDIA bloc such as Samajwadi Party (SP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) . ), who had raised concerns about EVMs.
Tagore urged Abdullah to “check your facts,” clarifying that the Congress Working Committee resolution specifically addressed issues with the Election Commission of India.
“Why this approach to our partners after we became prime minister?” Manickam Tagore tweeted.
Growing alienation among INDIA allies
Tensions within the INDIA bloc are further aggravated by the growing alienation from the Congress over several issues, including the handling of allegations against industrialist Gautam Adani.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Sharad Pawar) MP Amol Kolhe recently stated that Parliament would be “better utilized” in discussing pressing issues affecting farmers and youth, rather than focusing on political ties with businessmen.
The INDIA bloc's other allies, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shiv Sena (UBT) and Samajwadi Party (SP), have so far kept aloof from the issue, with only the Congress protesting daily in Parliament. The TMC has openly said that there are more important issues to discuss than the investigation against industrialist Gautam Adani, who has been accused of bribery by US authorities.
The pressure on Congress is increasing
Adding to Congress' woes, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has joined other parties in backing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's bid to lead the INDIA block coalition opposing the BJP. Historically a steadfast ally of the Gandhi family, Yadav's shift signals a possible realignment of political strategies after the Congress's poor performance in the recent state elections.
The Congress party is facing increasing pressure from its allies after a disappointing performance in the recent elections. The NC-Congress alliance won 49 of the 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, while the Congress secured only six of the 39 contested seats.
This underperformance has led to calls from partners like Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and RJD for introspection and fairer treatment of coalition members.