National Conference wins 3 seats, BJP gets one

Digital Desk

Rajya Sabha elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (October 24) for four seats. The National Conference (NC) won three seats, while the BJP won one. This was the first Rajya Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir since it became a Union Territory. The BJP’s victory was made possible by cross-voting from some legislators.

The three NC candidates who won are Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sajjad Kichloo, and Gurusharan (Shami) Oberoi. The BJP’s Sat Sharma won the fourth seat.

Earlier in the day, voting took place in the Assembly complex. A total of 86 legislators cast their votes, while one vote was cast through a postal ballot.

This was the first Rajya Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the reorganisation of the state into two Union Territories.

The four seats had fallen vacant on February 15, 2021, when former MPs Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmad Laway completed their terms. Two other members, Fayaz Ahmad Mir and Shamsher Singh Manhas, had completed their terms earlier on February 10 of the same year.

Out of 88 legislators, 86 cast their votes

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has 90 seats. However, two seats are vacant — one from Budgam, following Omar Abdullah’s resignation, and another from Nagrota, due to the death of BJP’s Devender Rana. This brings the total number of sitting legislators to 88. Of these, 86 participated in the Rajya Sabha voting.

People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone did not take part in the voting.

The postal ballot of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, who is currently in custody, also reached the Returning Officer and will be included in the counting.

Omar Abdullah says J&K’s voice will be strongly heard in Parliament

Celebrating the victory, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said the result reaffirms regional unity and public trust. He added that their legislators have sent a clear message: Jammu and Kashmir’s voice will be strongly heard in Parliament. He also expressed gratitude to allies for standing with them in this crucial battle.

Meanwhile, Peoples Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajjad Gani Lone alleged that the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir were a “fixed match” between the National Conference and BJP.

Cross-voting helps BJP win a seat in J&K Rajya Sabha elections

Looking at the claims of ruling alliance and independent MLAs, especially Sheikh Khurshid and Shabbir Kooli, BJP had little chance of winning any seat. The alliance had 29 votes each for the third and fourth seats, while BJP had 28 votes for its candidate.

BJP could win a seat only if some alliance MLAs—from National Conference, Congress, PDP, or independents—cross-voted. The victory on one BJP seat confirms that cross-voting occurred in its favour.