New Delhi: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the early trends of assembly elections show it’s a BJP “tsunami” in Uttar Pradesh and not just a ripple in a small pond, while he advised the Opposition to forget 2019 and start planning for the 2024 general elections.

As the trends came in, Abdullah tweeted: “In a nutshell there is no leader today with a pan India acceptability who can take on Modi & the BJP in 2019. At this rate we might as well forget 2019 & start planning/hoping for 2024.”

The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the Opposition needs to shift its strategy “from mere criticism to a positive alternative” and the results in other states give some hope that the BJP is not unbeatable.

In a series of tweets, Abdullah said: “Punjab, Goa and Manipur would certainly suggest that the BJP isn’t unbeatable but strategy needs to shift from criticism to positive alternate. I’ve said this before & I’ll say it again the voter needs to be given an alternative agenda that is based on what we will do better.

“Criticising the PM will only take us so far. The voter needs to know there is an option available to them that has a clear +ve road map,” added Abdullah.

“How the hell did almost all the experts/analysts miss this wave in UP? It’s a tsunami not a ripple in a small pond,” he tweeted.

The NC leader also listed the outcomes of the election results for three major fronts in the elections -- the BJP, the Congress and the AAP.

“Positives for BJP - obviously UP & Uttarakhand & the overwhelming mandate. Implications for Rajya Sabha & President V/President elections.”

“Positives for Congress - Punjab & at this stage they have their nose ahead in Manipur & Goa. Big positive AAP has not emerged as alternative.”

“Positives for AAP - they have emerged as a player in states outside Delhi but they were believed to be winning Punjab at this time last year.”