Srinagar, Oct 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in the recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received “four extra votes” despite the National Conference (NC) retaining its complete tally. Calling for transparency in the voting process, Omar demanded answers on how the BJP managed to secure additional votes when no cross-voting occurred from NC legislators.
Taking to social media platform X, Omar wrote, “All of @JKNC_ votes remained intact across the four elections, as witnessed by our election agent who verified each polling slip. There was no cross-voting from any of our MLAs. The question, therefore, arises—where did the four extra votes for the BJP come from?” His remarks have added a new twist to the post-election political discourse in the Union Territory.
Omar further questioned the integrity of certain legislators who allegedly invalidated their votes by deliberately marking incorrect preference numbers. “Who were the MLAs who intentionally spoiled their ballots? Do they have the courage to admit that they helped the BJP after earlier assuring us of their support? What kind of pressure or inducement led them to take such a step?” he asked.
The NC leader also urged those who “secretly aided the BJP” to come forward and accept accountability, saying the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve to know the truth behind these manipulations. “Those who played a covert role in supporting the BJP must own up to their actions. This is not just about numbers—it’s about ethics and trust,” he said.
Omar’s allegations come a day after the Rajya Sabha results, where the National Conference secured three of the four seats, while the BJP managed to win one after a closely contested race. Political analysts note that while the NC had a clear numerical advantage, the BJP’s ability to secure an extra edge in the final count has triggered questions about the internal discipline and reliability of supporting parties within the opposition bloc.
Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed Omar’s remarks as “baseless and politically motivated,” asserting that its victory reflected legitimate support and the confidence of legislators. However, opposition leaders across party lines have called for greater transparency in the vote verification process, demanding a detailed explanation from the Election Commission and Assembly Secretariat.
The controversy has injected fresh tension into J&K’s political scene, especially as parties prepare for the upcoming legislative and local body elections. For now, Omar Abdullah’s allegations have reignited the debate on the credibility of the electoral process, accountability of legislators, and the need for reforms to ensure transparency in indirect voting systems like the Rajya Sabha polls.