Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 years of electoral victories at state and national levels and also raised questions over the government's response to allegations and reports about the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
Abdullah said that winning elections in such a long time was not easy. He acknowledged Modi's success in the polls but did not shy away from questions about the Election Commission controversy.
“You have been standing there. You must have done something that people kept voting for you repeatedly. It is not easy to keep winning elections for 25 years— first at the state level and then at the central level,” Abdullah said.
The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister then congratulated Modi for the achievement. He said the achievement was significant and offered his wishes to the prime minister on behalf of himself and his colleagues.
“But it is good, and on my behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, I extend my congratulations to him,” Abdullah said.
Omar Abdullah Questions Government Response To CEC Allegations
Abdullah also congratulated Modi but also spoke about the ongoing controversy over the Chief Election Commissioner and allegations that have triggered political protests. He said the government’s response to some of the allegations was to say that they were a “fabrication”.
Abdullah argued that if the allegations were true, then legal action could have been initiated against those who made them public. He wondered why such action had not been taken.
“You called it fabrication. If it is fabrication, then why doesn’t the government take action against those who brought all this into the public domain?” he asked.
His comments are a continuation of a wider political dispute over the Election Commission and electoral processes. Opposition parties have raised questions on the issue and organised protests but the government and the election authorities are denying any of the allegations.
Abdullah specifically mentioned a newspaper report when he made his case. He said that if the report was wrong, the concerned authorities could have been able to pursue legal remedies, like a defamation case.
“I have not seen anywhere that a defamation suit was filed against them,” Abdullah said.
He also questioned whether the absence of legal action should be interpreted as evidence that the report was accurate. But the lack of a defamation case by itself doesn’t prove the accuracy or inaccuracy of a report, and the claims are part of the political conflict today.
INDIA Bloc Meeting And Protest Calendar
Abdullah has also been questioned on whether the recent developments and protests are related to the INDIA bloc meeting held in Delhi in recent days. This question also referred to a month-long protest programme that had been announced by Opposition leaders.
The INDIA bloc has been coordinating political activity around the Election Commission, electoral rolls and allegations raised by Opposition leaders. Delhi’s political unrest has further fuelled Opposition parties’ demands for answers from the election authorities.
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: On Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years as head of government, CM Omar Abdullah says, "He must have done something for people to have voted for him repeatedly. It is not easy to win elections continuously for 25 years, first at the state level and then at the central level. So, I would like to congratulate him on behalf of myself and my colleagues."
— IANS (@ians_india) October 7, 2026
The comments of Abdullah came in the context of this context of Modi’s long political career being acknowledged, but also questions about the government’s handling of allegations about the poll process.
Modi's 25-Year Electoral Journey
Modi entered electoral politics at the state level and has since won many elections. His political career has been from Gujarat Chief Minister to becoming the prime minister in 2014. He also won two more Lok Sabha elections on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.
The 25-year marker for Modi supporters is also a marker of his persistence and political success. Abdullah said too and also pointed out that the government was failing to get to elections consistently and that the CEC issue was a difficult political issue.
The comments underline the political context in the Election Commission debate. Different political parties have come together to dispute the allegations as to what happened and the authorities have been able to keep their views on the issues under discussion.
For Abdullah, the remarks also showed a difference between recognising Modi’s electoral record and asking questions about the conduct and response to the present controversy. His comments will be of interest to political parties preparing for more protests and talks around the Election Commission.
The CEC and electoral allegations are still politically controversial - and Opposition parties are still calling for greater accountability and clarification. The government’s response to these and any legal or institutional action could shape the next step of the controversy.
