Jammu, October 25 (KNS): The political controversy surrounding the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir continues a day after the polls, as party leaders traded accusations over alleged cross-voting and “fixed deals.”
BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir president Sat Sharma claimed a historic victory for his party, winning the fourth Rajya Sabha seat despite attempts by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to “create a division on the basis of Jammu versus Kashmir.” Sharma said, “This is a historic victory for the BJP. We have won the seat from the soil of Kashmir, despite attempts by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his party to create a division on the basis of Jammu versus Kashmir. He asked the legislators to unite against the BJP, which won 29 seats from Jammu in the 2024 Assembly polls.”
Sharma also dedicated the win to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party workers, adding, “We will continue to serve the people under ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas Sabka Prayas.’”
The BJP rejected People’s Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone’s claim that the Rajya Sabha elections were a “fixed match” between the National Conference (NC) and BJP.
Sharma dismissed the allegation, saying, “What he is saying now has no meaning. Why did he not vote? He should have voted, whether for A or B. Staying away from voting is undemocratic.”
However, Sajad Gani Lone, who represents Handwara, asserted that the NC facilitated BJP’s victory. “These two or three extra votes had no room for that candidate number four. Even if there had been no cross-voting, that candidate would still have lost.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
All the cross-voting was done by the National Conference. They did it themselves,” Lone said. He alleged, “Seven NC members directly gifted their votes to the BJP. It was a fixed match.” He added, “The BJP ensures the victory of its own candidates through these same people. They abuse BJP during elections to fool voters, but they are working together behind the scenes.”
NC president Farooq Abdullah rejected Lone’s claim, saying, “There was no question of gifting seven votes to the BJP. If that is the case then how was our candidate able to get 21 votes?” Abdullah added that the NC had been approached by the BJP to leave the fourth seat, which the party refused.
“We decided to contest on the fourth seat as well,” he said, thanking Congress, PDP, AIP, and independents for supporting NC candidates.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the outcome as a betrayal by unnamed legislators, stating, “It is unfortunate, but those involved are known to all.” He added, “I am satisfied that at least not even a single vote from NC didn’t go in vain.” Omar also commented on other local matters, saying, “If we can begin the tourist season early by opening the Tulip Garden, we can extend the season with the Gul-e-Dawood garden. I congratulate all gardeners and officials of the department.”
As political tensions linger, the aftermath of the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir continues to dominate discussions, with cross-party accusations and counterclaims keeping the spotlight on alleged deals, betrayals, and electoral strategies.(KNS)