National Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday took on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav for saying that the NC and People's Democratic Party boycotted last month's local polls on "instructions from across the border".
Madhav was speaking to ANI about governor Satyapal Malik's decision to dissolve the state assembly, even as two different alliances have announced they want to form the government.
A furious Abdullah dared Madhav to prove that his party was working on Pakistan's orders.
Madhav responded on Twitter, saying he wasn't questioning Abdullah's "patriotism".
But Abdullah said he was issuing an "open challenge" to Madhav and the government to prove the allegation.
The BJP is on the back foot in Jammu and Kashmir after its attempt to prop up a government headed by Sajjad Gani Lone of the People's Conference was thwarted by the purported alliance between NC, PDP and the congress.
Abdullah also brought up the matter in a press conference, saying Madhav should furnish evidence or apologise.