A while after PM Narendra Modi called out to famous people to help bring more people out to vote in the upcoming elections, J&K politician and former CM, Omar Abdullah accused the center of running the state under Governor's rule.
Abdullah expressed his views in a series of tweets:
"Dear @narendramodi Sahib, it is good to see you appealing to famous people to increase voter turnout however at the same time your government has consciously disenfranchised people in J&K by not holding Assembly elections on time."
“The right to choose an elected government, as opposed to being governed by a hand-picked nominee of the central government, is the hallmark of the sort of democracy you are tweeting about. Please give us our democratic right to choose our own government.”
“In light of the failure to conduct assembly elections on time in J&K, I’m retweeting my tweets from a few days ago. PM Modi has surrendered to Pakistan, to the militants & to the hurriyat. Well done Modi Sahib. 56-inch chest failed. #slowclap”
“It’s worth remembering that since 1995-96 Pakistan, militants & separatist have always tried to ensure elections don’t take place in J&K. Successive governments since H.D. Deve Gowda have ensured all attempts at disruption fail.”
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, while announcing the dates for the Lok Sabha polls, had pointed out the constraints in the availability of central forces, other logistics and recent incidents of violence as the reason for not holding assembly elections alongside national polls.
The decision had invited a barrage of criticism in the Kashmir Valley.
The state has been under Governor's Rule after BJP ended the ruling alliance with Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party.
In November 2018, Governor Satyapal Malik dissolved the state assembly after opposition claimed to form a government by Mehbooba Mufti who was supported by Omar Abdullah and the Congress.