BJP should be congratulated, we were not expecting this: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah responded to the BJP’s win in three states saying that Opposition alliance will not win the Lok Sabha polls if the situation continues to be like in the future.

"Judging the results of INDIA alliance in the state elections, if the situation is like this in the future, we cannot win," news agency ANI quoted Omar Abdullah as saying.

The BJP pulled off a stunning victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh nevertheless exit polls mostly predicted victory for the Congress or the party making a dent in the BJP’s winning numbers.

Proving predictions wrong, the BJP surged past the Congress in these three states, stunning both the Congress leadership and poll pundits.

Omar Abdullah said the Congress’ win only in Telangana run against its claims for other states.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister reportedly said ‘BJP should be congratulated because we were not expecting this result. We were hearing from our allies that in Chhattisgarh, the Congress would come to power easily, they would win in Madhya Pradesh as well, they were confident in Telangana and they were even saying that in the end they will come out victorious in Rajasthan as well.’

Abdulla further added, ‘when the results came out, only their claim in Telangana stood true. Neither could they save Chhattisgarh, nor win back Madhya Pradesh nor could they win in Rajasthan again.’

Assessing the BJP’s track record for Madhya Pradesh, Abdullah said aside from Kamal Nath being the Chief Minister for a short time, BJP has been in power for around 20 years, and the fifth term is ‘huge’.

The National Conference Vice President said, ‘On December 6, the Congress chief has invited some INDIA alliance leaders for lunch. They recalled the INDIA alliance after three months. Let's see.’

Reviewing the situation in Madhya Pradesh, Abdullah said the Congress should have given some seats to its INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party.

‘Either the Congress has not been able to understand the ground situation in Madhya Pradesh. What harm could have happened if they had given 5-7 seats to Akhilesh Yadav. What storm could have blown? What have they won now? The results are in front of everyone now,’ he was quoted as saying.

When asked if his party will join hands with INDIA bloc in state polls, Abdullah said this party ‘will be standing on its own’ in the Assembly polls.