Omar Abdullah Critiques JP Nadda's Understanding of Polling Trends in Srinagar Elections

Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, responded to J P Nadda's comments on Friday. Nadda, the BJP national president, had criticised Abdullah's remarks about low voter turnout in Srinagar. Abdullah highlighted that some areas in Srinagar have fewer votes than during parliamentary elections.

Abdullah pointed out that the Noorabad assembly constituency saw a significant drop in voter turnout. It recorded 60% this time compared to 80% in the 2014 elections, marking a 20% decrease. He emphasised that understanding this doesn't require mathematical skills but rather common sense.

Voter Turnout Concerns

Abdullah expressed his views on the low voter turnout in Srinagar during the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. He suggested that this might be a reaction from the people against the Centre's attempts to portray normalcy in the Union Territory.

Nadda had previously commented on Abdullah's statement about poll percentages in Srinagar. He noted that while it used to be between 6% and 8%, it has now increased to 58% to 60%. Nadda questioned Abdullah's mathematical abilities, saying, "If he was bad in mathematics, what could I do?"

Political Reactions

Abdullah responded sharply to Nadda's remarks about his mathematical skills. He stated, "It does not need maths. It needs common sense. One does not need maths for it; they need common sense. I can't do anything if JP Nadda does not have common sense."

During the first phase of voting, there was a 60% turnout, while the second phase saw a slight decrease to 58%. These figures were part of Nadda's argument against Abdullah's claims about low voter participation.

The exchange between Abdullah and Nadda highlights differing perspectives on voter engagement in Jammu and Kashmir. While Nadda focused on improved percentages, Abdullah emphasised areas with declining numbers compared to previous elections.