BJP Sends ₹100 Crore Defamation Notice to Omar Abdullah Over 'Poaching' Allegations

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday served a legal notice to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah , demanding that he either substantiate his allegations of political poaching against the party or issue a public apology within seven days. The BJP warned that it would file a ₹100 crore defamation suit if he fails to provide evidence or retract his remarks.

According to a statement issued by the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit, the notice was sent to Abdullah through post and email, seeking proof for his claims that the party was attempting to lure legislators with financial incentives to destabilise the National Conference (NC)-led government.

The controversy stems from a speech delivered by Abdullah at a gathering of National Conference workers in Hazratbal last week. During his address, he alleged that the BJP was trying to engineer a split within the ruling party to bring down his government. He further claimed that an NC MLA from the Jammu region had informed him of an offer of ₹20–30 crore along with a ministerial berth in exchange for switching allegiance to the BJP.

Rejecting the allegations as false and defamatory , the BJP said the chief minister's statements had damaged the party's reputation and demanded that he either produce credible evidence or publicly withdraw the claims. The party asserted that failure to comply within the stipulated seven-day period would lead to legal proceedings seeking ₹100 crore in damages .

The exchange comes amid heightened political tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Conference-Congress alliance formed the government after the Assembly elections. In the 90-member elected Assembly , the National Conference holds 41 seats , Congress has six , and CPI(M) one , giving the ruling coalition 48 MLAs the majority mark in the House. The government also enjoys the support of four Independent MLAs , taking its effective strength to 52 .

The BJP, with 29 MLAs, is the single-largest opposition party , followed by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) with four seats , while the People's Conference , Awami Ittehad Party , and two Independents account for the remaining legislators outside the ruling bloc. Against this backdrop, Abdullah has alleged that the BJP is attempting to engineer defections to erode the ruling alliance's majority. The BJP has categorically denied the charge, maintaining that the allegations are baseless and defamatory, and has sought either evidence or a public apology through its ₹100 crore legal notice.