Srinagar, Mar 13 (IANS): Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving the people of Jammu and Kashmir the right to choose a state government.

Abdullah was reacting to Modi's appeal to people to vote in large numbers to increase participation in the democratic exercise.

"Dear @narendramodi Sahib, it is good to see you appealing to famous people to increase voter turnout. However, at the same time, your government has consciously disenfranchised people in J&K by not holding Assembly elections on time," the National Conference leader tweeted.

Abdullah was highly critical of the central government, saying that the state was governed by New Delhi's nominee.

"The right to choose an elected government, as opposed to being governed by a hand-picked nominee of the central government, is the hallmark of the sort of democracy you are tweeting about. Please give us our democratic right to choose our own government," he said.

The Election Commission has decided not to hold the Assembly elections simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls in the state.