Omar Abdullah stresses on need to change strategy to beat BJP

Omar added that at present there was no leader with a pan-India acceptability who could take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019.

New Delhi, March 11: Political parties need to shift their strategy from criticism to positive alternate if they want to beat the BJP, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday.

"Punjab, Goa and Manipur would certainly suggest that the BJP isn't unbeatable but strategy needs to shift from criticism to positive alternate," Omar, who is also Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, tweeted.

Omar added that at present there was no leader with a pan-India acceptability who could take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019.

"At this rate, we might as well forget 2019 and start planning (and) hoping for 2024," he added.

Omar's remarks came as BJP cruised towards victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand while the Congress was ahead in Punjab and Manipur in the assembly polls.

Congress and the BJP were neck and neck in Goa.

IANS