Betrayal or strategy? Omar Abdullah questions how BJP secured one Rajya Sabha seat in J-K

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday congratulated the three National Conference (NC) candidates who secured victories in the Rajya Sabha elections but expressed disappointment that the party was “let down at the last moment” in its attempt to win a fourth seat.

The NC won three of the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure one.

“Heartiest congratulations to my colleagues Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi on their victory in the Rajya Sabha polls. I wish them well as they begin a new innings representing the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament,” Abdullah posted on X.

The chief minister, who also serves as the NC’s vice president, said the party had worked hard to ensure the victory of its fourth candidate, Imran Nabi Dar, but was let down by others at a crucial stage.

“At the same time, my heart goes out to my young colleague 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,” he added.

Abdullah clarified that all NC votes had remained intact across the four elections and that there was no cross-voting by the party’s MLAs. “All of JK NC votes remained intact, as witnessed by our election agent, who saw each polling slip. There was no cross-voting from any of our MLAs. So the question arises—where did the four extra votes of the BJP come from?” he said.

The chief minister also questioned who the MLAs were that had “deliberately invalidated their votes” by marking the wrong preference numbers. “Do they have the guts to put their hands up and own up to helping the BJP after promising us their votes? What pressure or inducement helped them make this choice? Let’s see if any of the BJP’s secret team own up to selling their souls,” he added.

A BJP spokesperson later confirmed that party candidate Sat Sharma won the fourth seat with 32 votes, while NC’s Imran Nabi Dar received 22.

The National Conference, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, secured three Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir after a closely fought election. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi will now represent the party in Parliament. The BJP’s Sat Sharma won the fourth seat, defeating NC’s Imran Nabi Dar.

Following the results, Abdullah congratulated his party’s winners but questioned how the BJP managed to obtain four extra votes beyond its expected numbers. He reiterated that the NC legislators had voted as directed and hinted that some MLAs from other parties may have deliberately invalidated their votes to benefit the BJP.

Abdullah’s remarks come amid renewed political activity in Jammu and Kashmir following the restoration of electoral processes. The Rajya Sabha elections were the first since the region’s reorganisation into a Union Territory in 2019.

According to official results, Sat Sharma received 32 votes while Imran Nabi Dar secured 22. Opposition leaders have called for transparency in the voting process, while the BJP has maintained that its win was legitimate and a reflection of political support in the Assembly.