National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday, attributed the BJP's success in three states not as a defeat of the INDIA bloc but as a result of the Congress's shortcomings.
He was speaking to the reporters at Dargah Hazratbal in Srinagar.
He emphasised that the INDIA alliance remains robust, despite certain issues needing resolution, as various parties contested the state elections independently rather than as a unified alliance.
He stressed that the setback in these states reflects the Congress party's setbacks rather than a collective failure of the alliance.
Regarding an invitation to a dinner at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's residence, he said the NC had received the invitation, but he refrained from commenting on whether West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had received a similar intimation.
Earlier, Abdullah expressed concerns about the opposition alliance's performance in state elections, acknowledging the unexpected outcomes favouring the BJP. He highlighted the BJP's significant win in Madhya Pradesh, where they secured their fifth term in power, noting the Congress's inability to retain Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
He pointed out the missed opportunity by Congress to allocate seats to their INDIA alliance partner, the Samajwadi Party (SP), in Madhya Pradesh.
He questioned the Congress’s decision and its impact on the election results, suggesting that allocating a few seats to the SP might have yielded different outcomes.
Responding to queries about future electoral strategies, he mentioned the NC's intention to contest assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir independently, diverging from the INDIA alliance.
The statement is notable considering the NC's participation in the Gupkar Alliance, which includes parties like PDP, CPI(M), Awami National Conference, and CPI.
While the Gupkar Alliance achieved success in the District Development Council elections in 2020, winning 101 of the 220 seats, Abdullah has underscored the NC's potential decision to pursue individual participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Observers believe that the BJP’s big win in the three states will strengthen the party’s chances in Jammu and Kashmir where it aims to come to power with the help of some allies in Kashmir valley.
