Omar, Mehbooba flag differences within ECI, seek course correction

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti expressed their concern on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) over problems with the current electoral process in the country. They were referring to allegations that there were significant differences within the Election Commission of India (ECI) . The two Kashmiri leaders have sought an urgent course correction.

“It opens a lot of questions. We have had persistent complaints about the way in which the ECI has functioned. Before the SIR became an issue for the country, delimitation was an issue for us. The [delimitation] process was opaque and flawed and had been designed to benefit one political party and its supporters,” said Mr. Abdullah, on the controversy over reported differences within the ECI.