Abdullah made the sarcastic remarks while speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Tuesday, as political arguments over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls continued.
“Padma Bhushan? Why stop there? Give him the Bharat Ratna!” Abdullah said. Referring to the next presidential election, he added that Kumar could then be made President because, in his words, he had “done so much for the BJP”.
The remarks were a response to West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, who had publicly defended Kumar and said the Chief Election Commissioner deserved “at the very least” the Padma Bhushan. Bhattacharya praised the conduct of this year’s West Bengal Assembly election and the revision of electoral rolls, arguing that voters had been able to cast ballots without intimidation.
Abdullah rejected that assessment and alleged that the Election Commission had effectively “gifted West Bengal to the BJP”. His statement was political criticism rather than an established finding about the conduct or outcome of the election.
The National Conference leader also urged the Election Commission to examine concerns about its internal functioning rather than dismiss them. He said the controversy was not based solely on accusations made by opposition parties and argued that the commission should address questions raised about decision-making within the three-member body.
“The Election Commission should do some soul-searching,” Abdullah said, adding that it should improve its functioning and try to prevent circumstances that generate allegations about its independence or procedures.
The dispute intensified after disclosures that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on multiple occasions concerning electoral-roll decisions, including voter registration, deletion and restoration, Form 6 requirements and management of the electoral database.
The Election Commission has pushed back against suggestions that those disagreements meant its final decisions lacked collective approval. It has said differing views and observations are normal within a multi-member constitutional institution and maintained that key decisions were ultimately taken unanimously.
The institutional dispute reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday, when the court agreed to hear a petition questioning Kumar’s functioning and the legality of aspects of the SIR. The petition alleges that powers belonging to the commission collectively were exercised unilaterally. Those allegations remain to be adjudicated, and the matter is listed next week for hearing.
A full commission meeting involving Kumar, Sandhu and Joshi was held at Nirvachan Sadan on Saturday. The poll body subsequently announced measures relating to the Special Intensive Revision and its procedures, while reiterating its position that institutional deliberations should not be equated with formal dissent from final decisions.
The controversy has nevertheless widened politically. Opposition parties have demanded greater scrutiny of Kumar’s leadership and of the SIR process, while BJP leaders and allies have defended the Election Commission and accused its critics of undermining confidence in the constitutional body.
Bhattacharya’s proposal for a Padma Bhushan came against that backdrop. He credited Kumar with overseeing what he described as a peaceful election in West Bengal and supported the revision of voter lists, saying it had removed names that should not have remained on the rolls. Opposition parties have disputed claims surrounding the revision and questioned aspects of the exercise.
Abdullah’s intervention sharpened the exchange by turning the proposed civilian honour into a broader attack on what he portrays as excessive BJP praise for the Chief Election Commissioner. His reference to the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, and the presidency was plainly sarcastic.
The Chief Minister also addressed other issues while speaking to reporters. Asked about External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s assessment of ties with China, Abdullah said Jaishankar was not wrong to point to an improvement compared with the period following the Galwan confrontation.
