Omar dubs opposition unity a 'myth', likens it to Chimera

Omar expressed hope that there were people in the Congress who take note of opinions like that of Jairam Ramesh.

Srinagar, Aug 8: Hinting that the BJP may return to power in 2019 general elections, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah called the opposition a "myth". He also likened the opposition unity to a mythological beast Chimera, which has many heads and is composed of the parts of more than one animal.

"The myth of opposition unity has been systematically shown for what it is- a chimera. It's each 1 (one) for themselves in 2019 & 5 (five) more years 2 (to) BJP," Omar wrote on Twitter.

The National Conference working president was reacting the developments in Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls where Ahmad Patel, Congress candidate and confidante of party president Sonia Gandhi, is seeking a fifth term to the Upper House.

"I can't remember the last time a #RajyaSabhaElection was such an attention grabbing event. This one is a real cliff hanger," Omar said.

Omar expressed hope that there were people in the Congress who take note of opinions like that of Jairam Ramesh, who admitted that the party was in crisis.

"I hope there are people in the Grand Old Party who sit up & take note of what Jairam is saying. Dismissing his views will be shortsighted," Omar said.

Ramesh, in an interview with PTI, said "I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis."

The Congress, however, downplayed Ramesh's comment saying it was his personal view.

Ramesh stated the Congress had faced "electoral crisis" from 1996 to 2004 when it was out of power and also faced a similar situation in 1977 when it lost the elections held immediately after the emergency.

"But today, I would say that the Congress is facing an existential crisis. It is not an electoral crisis. The party really is in deep crisis," Ramesh had said.

PTI