National Conference leader Omar Abdullah cautioned the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United) that the Bharatiya Janata Party will try to “cobble up numbers independent” of its two main allies, hinting at a possible “Operation Lotus” to remove dependence on them.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Abdullah also ruled out contesting the forthcoming occupied Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, stating he will not “humiliate” himself by entering the legislature of the so-called union territory. Instead, he will lead his party’s campaign and fight for the restoration of statehood.
Abdullah’s remarks come as the BJP has secured a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, but its allies have failed to make a significant impact. The National Conference leader believes that the BJP will try to poach legislators from other parties to strengthen its position. He advised the TDP and JD(U) to be vigilant, as the BJP’s “Operation Lotus” has been successful in the past.
“Operation Lotus” is a political term used in India to describe a strategy where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tries to poach legislators from other parties, especially its allies, to join the BJP or support its government, thereby gaining a majority or strengthening its position. The term is derived from the BJP’s election symbol, the lotus.—KMS
