Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has asserted that the Congress party is entitled to set its own political agenda, distancing his National Conference (NC) from the recent allegations of 'vote chori' (vote theft) leveled by the national party against the ruling BJP. His comments highlight a nuanced position within the opposition INDIA alliance.
INDIA Bloc Partners, Separate Agendas
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Monday, December 15, 2025, Omar Abdullah responded to questions about the Congress's massive rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. The rally focused on accusing the BJP of systematic 'vote chori'. "The INDIA Alliance has nothing to do with it," stated Abdullah, emphasizing the autonomy of constituent parties. "Every political party has a free hand to decide its political agenda."
This clarification comes despite the fact that both the National Conference and the Congress are part of the INDIA opposition bloc and had jointly contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. However, in a significant political development, the Congress later decided to stay away from the government formed under Omar Abdullah's leadership.
"We Will Choose Our Issues"
Elaborating on his stance, the Chief Minister adopted a pragmatic tone. "Now the Congress has made SIR and vote chori its main political issue, it's ok," he said. He firmly upheld the principle of strategic independence for alliance partners, adding, "Who are we to tell them that they shouldn't do it? We will choose our issues, they will choose theirs."
His remarks were made a day after top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, launched a fierce attack on the BJP and the Election Commission at the 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally. At the event, they alleged that "vote chori" is in the ruling party's DNA and labeled its leaders as 'gaddar' (traitors) conspiring to undermine voting rights.
The Congress's Signature Campaign
The Congress has claimed significant public traction for its campaign, stating it has collected approximately six crore (60 million) signatures from citizens protesting against alleged electoral malpractices. The party has announced plans to present these signatures to the President of India, seeking intervention.
Omar Abdullah's statement underscores the complex dynamics within the INDIA bloc, where national and regional parties often have to balance collective opposition with state-specific political narratives and priorities. While maintaining the alliance framework, the National Conference leadership has made it clear that it does not necessarily endorse every campaign spearheaded by its national partner.
