Farooq Abdullah Calls for Respecting Mandate

SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and ruling National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that the recently declared election results in four states and one Union Territory must be accepted with respect, emphasising that the people’s verdict is final.

Speaking to reporters at Charar‑i‑Sharief in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, he noted that the outcome is “before everyone” and expressed hope that the new governments would prioritise public welfare. He added that the nation belongs to all citizens and must be nurtured so that “everyone progresses.”

Chief Minister and NC vice president Omar Abdullah also reacted to the poll results, stating that the outcome clearly reflects the mood and sentiment of the people. He said that elections are a mirror of public opinion, and the results—whether favourable or not—must be acknowledged as part of the democratic process. He maintained that political parties should introspect, learn from the mandate, and prepare themselves for future challenges.

Senior Abdullah reiterated that the NC is fully prepared for the upcoming Panchayat elections and is awaiting the official notification. He described Panchayats as a vital democratic institution that strengthens governance at the grassroots level and ensures that development reaches every household.

However, former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti struck a sharply different tone while reacting to these elections. Expressing deep reservations about the fairness of the electoral process—particularly in West Bengal—she questioned the role of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in conducting the exercise.

Writing on ‘X’, she recalled a time when India was admired globally for its robust democratic institutions and transparent elections, especially after T. N. Seshan’s tenure transformed the ECI into what she described as a “fearless guardian of democracy.”

In her view, that legacy now stands diminished. She alleged that the institution is being accused of undermining the electoral process, aided by central agencies, calling it a “tragic fall.” She added that while India may not have achieved the lofty claim of becoming a “Vishwaguru,” it appears to have “mastered the art of electoral manipulation,” with West Bengal serving as the latest reminder of this troubling trend.

In contrast, Mufti viewed the outcomes in Tamil Nadu and Kerala through a more hopeful lens. She said that one could take solace from the fact that the sweeping victory of C. Vijay and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) stands apart from the pattern seen in several other states, where voters opted for the BJP over regional parties. According to her, Tamil Nadu’s verdict reflects a deliberate choice for a secular and progressive alternative, consistent with the state’s long‑standing political ethos that rejects communal and divisive politics. Supporters, she noted, interpret the mandate as a reaffirmation of Tamil Nadu’s commitment to social justice, pluralism, and inclusive development.

She also extended her congratulations to actor Vijay, calling his electoral debut extraordinary. Mufti expressed hope that he would remain firmly rooted in the values that have shaped Tamil Nadu’s political identity for generations—social justice, anti‑caste principles, and the Tamil tradition of equality, dignity, and collective progress. She suggested that this new political chapter could further strengthen the state’s legacy of rational, inclusive, and people‑centric governance.