Political Earthquake in J&K as BJP Wins Extra Rajya Sabha Seat Against Numbers

• J&K Poll Shock: BJP Stuns NC, Bags Fourth RS Seat Amid Cross-Voting Row

Srinagar, Oct 24: In a stunning political development that has rattled Jammu and Kashmir’s power corridors, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched the fourth Rajya Sabha seat despite lacking the numerical strength on paper. The result has sparked a wave of allegations, with at least seven MLAs now under scrutiny for suspected cross-voting and ballot manipulation.

The high-stakes election, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, saw the National Conference (NC) comfortably secure three seats, but the BJP’s victory has turned the political landscape on its head. BJP’s Sat Pal Sharma secured 32 votes, exceeding the party’s official strength of 28 in the 90-member House. NC’s Imran Nabi Dar, who had entered the contest as the clear favourite backed by the NC, Congress, PDP, and Left MLAs, managed only 21 votes, while Shammi Oberoi of the NC bagged 31 votes in the same round.

The unexpected numbers have triggered a flurry of accusations. NC leaders alleged “horse-trading and betrayal,” claiming that four MLAs who had promised support to their candidate voted for the BJP instead. They also pointed to three deliberately invalidated ballots, which allegedly swung the outcome.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacted sharply, demanding an explanation for the BJP’s four “extra” votes. “Every NC vote stayed intact. So where did the BJP’s extra votes come from?” he questioned. While Omar congratulated the victors, he hinted at deeper manipulation, saying, “It only proves the influence of money and pressure politics that have found their way into J&K’s Assembly.”

Meanwhile, Imran Nabi Dar, visibly dejected, accused the BJP of using “all its resources” to win a seat it could not secure fairly. “They had only 28 votes and yet managed 32. It is clear horse-trading happened. Those who sold their conscience should come forward and admit it,” he told reporters.

On the other side, BJP leaders hailed the result as a “victory of vision and trust”, with party spokespersons crediting Prime Minister Modi’s policies for strengthening the BJP’s presence in the Union Territory. “The numbers speak for themselves. The people and their representatives have faith in our leadership,” a senior BJP leader said.

However, the aftershocks were not limited to the NC and BJP. People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone called the election a “fixed match”, claiming a tacit understanding between both parties. “The numbers don’t lie. This was political theatre,” he said, accusing both parties of backroom dealings.

The PDP and Congress, allies of the NC in this election, congratulated the ruling party for its three wins but condemned the BJP’s “unethical victory,” calling for an investigation into the voting pattern. “If this is how democracy functions, it undermines the entire electoral spirit,” a senior Congress leader said.

As celebrations and protests echoed across the Assembly complex, the Rajya Sabha results have reshaped the political battlefield ahead of the upcoming bypolls. The outcome also ended a three-year vacuum in J&K’s representation in the Upper House since February 2021.

But beneath the surface of celebration and outrage lies a growing unease. Allegations of cross-voting, backroom bargaining, and manipulation have reopened old wounds of mistrust among J&K’s political class. For a region still rebuilding its democratic structures, Friday’s “poll shock” has underscored how fragile alliances remain  and how volatile the path ahead could be.