Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice-President of the National Conference, Omar Abdullah, expressed his viewpoint on Tuesday, suggesting that the Congress should reconsider the notion of approaching the Supreme Court regarding the recent assembly poll outcomes. Instead, he advised the party to redirect its focus towards the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
In the aftermath of Congress losing all three Hindi heartland states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, which underwent polls in November, Abdullah asserted that the party should engage in introspection to discern the areas where it may have faltered and subsequently learn from those experiences.
Highlighting the cyclical nature of electoral outcomes, Abdullah remarked, "Elections are inherently dynamic, encompassing victories and defeats. Merely reveling in electoral triumphs is insufficient; one must also gracefully accept defeats. In light of the Congress's setbacks in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, rather than resorting to legal avenues such as approaching the Supreme Court, it would be prudent for the party to conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying reasons. Some individuals foresaw the potential challenges earlier, and the party ought to reflect on those insights."
Drawing on a personal anecdote, Abdullah shared, "I have a friend in Chhattisgarh who is a BJP MP. He apprised me two months ago that the BJP was poised for victory in Chhattisgarh, and at that time, I found it amusing." Raising a pertinent question, he inquired, "If an individual within the BJP had such prescient knowledge, why did the Congress fail to grasp the unfolding scenario?"
In essence, Abdullah's counsel to the Congress involves a shift in focus towards future electoral contests, urging the party to engage in a constructive analysis of its recent electoral setbacks rather than pursuing legal remedies. This approach, he believes, would enable the Congress to glean valuable insights and strategically prepare for the upcoming challenges in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Â
