SRINAGAR, Oct 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on Monday as allegations of cross-voting in the recent Rajya Sabha elections resurfaced, sparking heated exchanges among members across party lines.
The uproar began when Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of “stealing four votes” in the Rajya Sabha polls.
“Sarei raaz khul dunga, remain seated here,” Choudhary declared in the middle of Question Hour, promising to reveal what he called the “truth behind the cross voting.” His statement immediately triggered loud protests from BJP legislators, who rose from their seats shouting in objection.
As tempers flared, National Conference (NC) MLAs retaliated with chants of “Vote chor, vote chor!” (vote stealers), directed at the BJP benches. The Speaker struggled to restore order as the House reverberated with slogans and counter allegations.
Amid the commotion, Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone added fuel to the fire, accusing both major parties of collusion. “It was match fixing between the NC and BJP,” Lone alleged, prompting renewed uproar.
The session had to be briefly adjourned as the political slugfest showed no signs of easing. The latest confrontation underscores the deepening tension between the ruling coalition and opposition over alleged irregularities in the Rajya Sabha elections, which have already sparked widespread debate across the Union Territory.
Officials and political observers believe that Choudhary’s remarks could reignite demands for an official probe into the voting process, as the controversy continues to shadow the credibility of the recent polls.