In a rare show of support for Rahul Gandhi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has hit back at suggestions of a leadership change within the INDIA bloc. Abdullah said that Gandhi is effectively holding the government accountable and consistently taking on the ruling BJP, which he described as the primary job of the Opposition. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister brushed aside the remarks of Mani Shankar Aiyar, who had suggested that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should lead the INDIA bloc instead of Rahul Gandhi. Abdullah said that no such discussion on leadership change within the INDIA bloc has taken place. The support marks a shift in tone for Abdullah, who, in the past, has been a vocal critic of the alliance’s functioning and the issues raised by Congress, including “Vote Chori” and rigged EVMs. Only a few months ago, he said that the INDIA bloc was on “life support.” But today, Omar Abdullah came out strongly in support of Rahul Gandhi and praised him for his performance as an Opposition leader and questioned the rationale of those seeking a leadership change in the INDIA bloc.
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