Gulmarg, February 23 Amidst talk of a leadership change within the INDIA bloc, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rallied behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday, stating that he has been effectively performing the role of Leader of the Opposition and holding both the government and the BJP accountable.
Responding to a question about suggestions that a section of the INDIA bloc is proposing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lead the opposition alliance, Abdullah clarified that no such meeting has taken place to discuss leadership.
"So, I don't know where this is being proposed," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Khelo India winter games here.
Abdullah's National Conference is a part of the opposition alliance.
Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had said in Kolkata on Sunday that the party should relinquish the leadership role within the INDIA bloc to regional parties and suggested Banerjee's name.
"As for Mani Shankar Aiyar, he has expressed his personal opinion. He has the right to his opinion, and no one can say he doesn't have the right to speak his mind," Abdullah said, but made it clear that the decision on the leadership issue will be made by the INDIA bloc.
"But ultimately, when a decision is made, it will be by the INDIA bloc. Everyone will discuss it together. To date, there has been no discussion regarding leadership in any meeting of the INDIA bloc," he said.
Abdullah showed support for Gandhi by challenging critics to define what more is expected of the Leader of the Opposition.
Turning his attention to the scrutiny surrounding Gandhi's effectiveness, Abdullah said, "Tell me, what has Rahul Gandhi lacked in competing against the BJP?"
"He is consistently the one person who targets the BJP, always opposes the BJP and criticizes the government on every issue," Abdullah said. "That is the job of the leader of the opposition. What more do you want from Rahul Gandhi?"
While acknowledging that sometimes the Congress doesn't achieve success in elections, the chief minister argued that the job of the INDIA bloc is to hold the government accountable and oppose the BJP.
"In that regard, can someone tell me what Rahul Gandhi has lacked?" Abdullah said.