NC, BJP Reject Allegations of ‘Fixed Match’ in Rajya Sabha Polls
Srinagar: The National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday dismissed allegations that the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir were a “fixed match.”
NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah said his party had turned down a proposal from the BJP for an uncontested arrangement and instead chose to face a democratic contest. “Had we gifted them anything, how did our fourth candidate still secure 21 votes? They (BJP) approached us suggesting we take three seats and give them one. We refused and decided to contest,” Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.
The NC chief was responding to charges made by People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone, who accused the party of “gifting” seven votes to the BJP. “Allegations will always be made. Even the Prophet faced accusations; we are nothing compared to him,” Abdullah said, downplaying the controversy.
In Friday’s polls — the first Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir since it became a Union Territory in 2019 — the ruling NC won three seats while the BJP bagged one. BJP’s J&K president Sat Sharma defeated NC’s Imran Nabi Dar, securing 32 votes.
Abdullah expressed gratitude to the Congress and PDP for supporting NC candidates, emphasizing that all his party MLAs remained united. “They (BJP) could not break even one of our MLAs. We are thankful to Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, Congress, and the independent MLAs from Langate and Shopian who supported us,” he said.
On the NC’s fourth candidate’s defeat, Abdullah admitted disappointment, saying some MLAs did not keep their promise of support. “He got 21 votes but could not win. God knows whether it was betrayal or just miscalculation. Still, we are thankful that we won three seats,” he said.
Abdullah also dismissed claims that his party had failed to prepare adequately for the elections. “Had we not prepared, how would we have got 21 votes? These are baseless allegations and propaganda,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, thanked the seven legislators who voted for the BJP candidate. “They have rejected the NC government and sent them a warning. We welcome them,” he said, asserting that the BJP had not approached any MLA directly.
Sajad Lone, however, maintained his allegations, claiming the results were part of a covert deal between the NC and BJP. “You (NC) have clearly gifted seven members to the BJP. It was a fixed match,” he said at a press conference, alleging that cross-voting was a result of “understanding” rather than “horse-trading.”
On a separate note, Abdullah responded to Congress leader Tariq Hamid Karra’s comments that the Congress was “happy” not to have contested the fourth seat. “He has the right to say what he wants. We had offered them the Nagrota seat for the bypoll, but they didn’t take it,” Abdullah said.
Asked about NC’s promise of 200 units of free electricity and the public resentment over smart meters, Abdullah said: “Nothing comes free. Even when I was CM in 1984, I said power is not free. We are paying thousands of crores that could be used for public welfare. If we want to safeguard our identity, we must be disciplined and face these challenges.”
He concluded by expressing hope that the NC candidate would eventually win the Nagrota seat and added, when asked about the Bihar elections, “The BJP should lose there.”
