National Conference Secures 3 Seats, BJP Claims 1 in Historic J&K Rajya Sabha Elections

Workers and supporters of J&K National Conference celebrate outside the counting center

Srinagar:

In Jammu and Kashmir's inaugural Rajya Sabha elections since becoming a Union Territory, the National Conference secured three seats while the BJP claimed one on Friday. The outcome aligned with expectations, with the BJP's victory potentially attributed to strategic cross-voting by some Independents and the People's Conference's decision to abstain.

The polling for four Rajya Sabha seats was conducted on Friday through three separate electoral notifications.

In the first contest, National Conference's Chowdhry Mohammed Ramzan faced BJP's Ali Mohammed Mir. Legislative Assembly Secretary M K Pandita reported that Ramzan garnered 58 of 87 votes cast, while the BJP candidate received only the party's base strength of 28 votes. One vote was invalidated.

The second seat featured NC's Sajjad Kitchloo competing against BJP's Rakesh Mahajan. Pandita, who served as returning officer, confirmed Kitchloo secured 57 votes compared to BJP's 29, with two votes rejected.

For the third notification, National Conference fielded two candidates: G S Oberoi (also known as Shammi Oberoi) and Imran Nabi Dar, while the BJP nominated its Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Sat Sharma. According to Pandita, Oberoi received 31 votes and Dar managed 21, while BJP's Sharma obtained 32 votes. Three ballots were invalidated in this round.

The BJP's vote tally indicated they gained four additional votes, likely from Independent MLAs.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated the victorious NC candidates and emphasized that all party votes remained intact across all four elections, with poll agents verifying each ballot. "There was no cross-voting from any of our MLAs. So the questions arise -- where did the four extra votes of the BJP come from? Who were the MLAs who deliberately invalidated their votes by marking the wrong preference number while voting?" Abdullah posted on X.

He offered encouragement to unsuccessful candidate Imran Nabi Dar: "We put in our best effort to get him elected, but were let down at the last moment. It's not easy to lose a hard-fought election, but I'm confident other opportunities will open up for him soon."

The NC had issued a whip to its MLAs on Thursday, ensuring their presence and support for party candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections.

People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti congratulated the three National Conference winners, expressing hope they would effectively represent Jammu and Kashmir's interests in Parliament. The PDP had previously announced support for the NC "to keep the BJP away."

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra congratulated the National Conference for "securing three safe seats and putting up a strong fight for the fourth unsafe seat."

However, J-K Peoples' Conference chief Sajad Lone characterized the election as a "fixed match" between the National Conference and BJP. "So the BJP wins the fourth seat. As predicted -- a fixed match; Axis of the evil -- NC and BJP," Lone wrote on X. Lone, who represents Handwara assembly segment, abstained from voting and questioned the voting patterns: "Why did the NC poll extra votes for candidate three. They didn't need to. They polled 31 votes for candidate three. Only 29 votes would have sufficed, even 28, because the BJP was fighting for seat four."

The BJP strategically nominated Sharma in the third notification. His prospects improved after Lone, a former ally of the BJP-PDP government, announced his party would abstain from voting.

Defeated NC candidate Imran Nabi Dar alleged that the BJP engaged in horse-trading, pointing out that the party secured 32 votes despite having only 28 MLAs. "The BJP did not have the numbers to win this seat. They had only 28 MLAs. How did they get 32? It is clear that horse-trading has happened," Dar told reporters. He claimed the BJP must have "bought" four votes and said the party was working to expose those who cross-voted.

Following the announcement of results, National Conference supporters celebrated with slogans supporting their leaders, including chants of "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chorr." BJP supporters also gathered on the Assembly lawns to celebrate Sharma's victory.

The Union territory, which holds four seats in Rajya Sabha, had been unrepresented in Parliament's Upper House since February 15, 2021, when Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway completed their terms. Two other members, Fayaz Ahmed Mir and Shamsheer Singh Manhas, had finished their terms on February 10 that same year.