‘Congress is free to choose its own agenda’: Omar distances his party from ‘vote chori’ allegations
Both part of the INDIA bloc, the National Conference and the Congress jointly contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The Congress, however, stayed away from the Omar Abdullah-led government.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary addresses a press conference, in Srinagar, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. (PTI Photo)
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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Congress has the right to decide its political agenda and that the national party’s agenda had nothing to do with the INDIA bloc.
He was responding to a question on the Congress’ mega rally at the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital against “vote chori” [theft]. “The INDIA Alliance has nothing to do with it,” Omar said when asked about his opinion as an alliance partner. “Every political party has a free hand to decide its political agenda.”
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Both part of the INDIA bloc, the National Conference and the Congress jointly contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The Congress, however, stayed away from the Omar Abdullah-led government.
Still answering the question, Omar said: “Now the Congress has made SIR and vote chori its main political issue, it’s ok,” he said. “Who are we to tell them that they shouldn’t do it? We will choose our issues, they will choose theirs.”
His remarks came a day after top Congress leaders attacked the BJP and the Election Commission at a ‘Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod’ rally in the national capital, alleging that “vote chori” is in the ruling party’s DNA and that its leaders were “gaddar” [traitors] who were conspiring to take away people’s voting rights and should be removed from power.
The Congress has claimed that it has collected around six crore signatures against “vote theft” and will present them to the President of India.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
