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Omar Abdullah Mocks BJP's Padma Bhushan Demand for Gyanesh Kumar
Omar Abdullah made a sarcastic comment about an award request.
A BJP leader had said Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar deserved a Padma Bhushan.
The BJP leader praised Kumar for a peaceful election in West Bengal.
He also said Kumar helped remove illegal Bangladeshis from the voter list.
Abdullah said that if Kumar deserved one award, he should get the much bigger Bharat Ratna.
Abdullah then jokingly suggested making Kumar President of India.
His comments criticized the BJP’s praise of the election official.
The remarks were reported on September 29, 2026.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sarcastically proposed Bharat Ratna and the presidency for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Abdullah was responding to a BJP demand that Kumar receive a Padma Bhushan.
West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya said Kumar deserved the honour at the very least.
Bhattacharya credited Kumar with ensuring a violence-free Assembly election in West Bengal.
Bhattacharya also praised Kumar for what he called cleansing the voter list by removing illegal Bangladeshis.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya.
- What
- Abdullah sarcastically responded to a BJP demand that Kumar receive a Padma Bhushan, suggesting Bharat Ratna and the presidency instead.
- Where
- The remarks concerned elections in West Bengal and were made by Abdullah in Jammu and Kashmir.
- When
- Abdullah made the remarks on Tuesday, September 29, 2026; Bhattacharya’s demand was reported as having been made on Friday.
- Why
- Bhattacharya praised Kumar for a violence-free Assembly election and voter-list changes; Abdullah criticized the demand through sarcasm.
Abdullah's Criticism
BJP's Praise
Whether Kumar deserves major honours
Abdullah's Criticism
Omar Abdullah mocked the Padma Bhushan demand, saying Kumar should instead receive the Bharat Ratna and later become President.
BJP's Praise
Samik Bhattacharya said Kumar deserved a Padma Bhushan at the very least.
Assessment of Kumar's election role
Abdullah's Criticism
Abdullah’s remarks implied that the BJP’s praise of Kumar was excessive and politically motivated.
BJP's Praise
Bhattacharya credited Kumar with ensuring a violence-free Assembly election in West Bengal and cleansing the voter list by removing illegal Bangladeshis.
Key facts
- Main speaker
- Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
- Official discussed
- Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner
- Original demand
- Samik Bhattacharya said Kumar deserved a Padma Bhushan “at the very least”
- Alternative honour suggested
- Abdullah sarcastically proposed the Bharat Ratna
- Additional suggestion
- Abdullah said Kumar could be placed in Rashtrapati Bhavan as President in two years
- BJP rationale
- Bhattacharya cited a violence-free West Bengal Assembly election and voter-list cleansing
- Publication date
- September 29, 2026
Quotes
Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
“Why stop at Padma Bhushan? Confer the Bharat Ratna, and make him the President.”
news18.com
Sources
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