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Omar Abdullah Mocks BJP's Padma Award Demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar
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News18•29-09-2026, 20:12
Omar Abdullah Mocks BJP's Padma Award Demand for CEC Gyanesh Kumar
- •Omar Abdullah sarcastically suggested Bharat Ratna and presidency for CEC Gyanesh Kumar, instead of a Padma Bhushan, following a BJP demand.
- •West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya had called for a Padma Bhushan for Kumar, crediting him with violence-free elections and voter list cleansing.
- •Bhattacharya's comments came amidst controversy over the Election Commission's functioning under Kumar, particularly regarding electoral roll decisions.
- •An Indian Express report highlighted objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi on electoral roll decisions.
- •The Election Commission maintains that SIR decisions were unanimous and has ordered a review of its voter-roll software.
Key Questions Answered
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made sarcastic remarks after the West Bengal BJP demanded a Padma Bhushan for CEC Gyanesh Kumar, suggesting instead that he receive the Bharat Ratna and become the country's president.
West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya stated that Gyanesh Kumar deserved a Padma Bhushan for ensuring a violence-free assembly election and cleansing the voter list by removing illegal individuals during the Special Intensive Revision drive.
Opposition demands for Gyanesh Kumar's removal arose after a media report claimed that two other election commissioners raised objections multiple times over a ten-month period regarding decisions related to electoral rolls and the SIR process.
