Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday questioned the outcome of the Rajya Sabha elections in the Union Territory, alleging that there had been irregularities in the voting process that helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate secure victory. Abdullah, who leads the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), claimed that all of his party’s legislators voted as instructed and insisted that there had been no cross-voting — prompting him to ask how the BJP’s Sat Paul Sharma managed to receive four additional votes.

Taking to social media platform X, Abdullah wrote,

“All of @JKNC_votes remained intact across the four elections, as witnessed by our election agent who saw each polling slip. There was no cross-voting from any of our MLAs, so the question arises—where did the four extra votes of the BJP come from?”

He further accused certain legislators of intentionally invalidating their ballots to indirectly help the BJP.

“Who were the MLAs who deliberately invalidated their votes by marking a wrong preference number while voting? Do they have the guts to put their hands up and own up to helping the BJP after promising us their votes? What pressure or inducement helped them make this choice?” he asked.

Abdullah’s remarks came just hours after the results were announced, confirming a 3–1 split in favour of the National Conference. The JKNC won three of the four available Rajya Sabha seats, while the BJP managed to secure one — an outcome that Abdullah has now openly challenged.

---

JKNC sweeps three Rajya Sabha seats

Senior National Conference leader Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan was declared elected to the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir with 58 votes, the highest among all candidates. Two other NC leaders, Sajad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi, were also elected after a strong showing in the Assembly.

The party celebrated its victory with a post on X, stating,

“JKNC senior leader Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir, winning by 58 votes. Congratulations!”

The results marked a major political win for the JKNC, which had gone into the election confident of sweeping all four seats with the support of allies and independents.

---

BJP claims one seat amid controversy

The BJP’s state president, Sat Paul Sharma, won the remaining Rajya Sabha seat with 32 votes, defeating the National Conference’s Imran Nabi Dar, who secured 22 votes. The result, however, raised eyebrows within political circles in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after Abdullah’s remarks suggesting that some legislators might have secretly voted or invalidated their ballots to benefit the BJP.

According to Abdullah, the JKNC’s voting record was transparent and consistent, and the extra votes gained by the BJP could not be explained without investigating how certain ballots were cast or disqualified. He implied that behind-the-scenes inducements or political pressure may have played a role in altering the outcome.

“Let’s see if any of the BJP’s secret team own up to selling their souls!” Abdullah wrote, in a pointed attack on those he believes betrayed prior assurances.

---

Background: Vacant seats and political stakes

The election was held to fill four Rajya Sabha seats that had been vacant since February 2021, following the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Shamsher Singh, and Nazir Ahmed Laway. The contest was closely watched across political lines, as it represented the first major electoral exercise in the Union Territory after a period of political flux following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

For the National Conference, which currently governs Jammu and Kashmir, the election was seen as a test of strength and unity among its legislators. Abdullah had earlier expressed confidence that the party would sweep all four seats, citing support from Congress and several independent members.

Just days before the vote, he told reporters that Congress leaders had reiterated their opposition to the BJP and were waiting for instructions from their high command. Abdullah had described the Rajya Sabha polls as “historic,” noting that it was the first such election in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade.

---

Political implications

The results — and Abdullah’s public questioning of them — have added a layer of tension to Jammu and Kashmir’s already charged political environment. His statement questioning the source of the BJP’s “extra votes” suggests the NC may push for a closer examination of the ballot process.

Political observers note that the controversy could deepen the rivalry between the JKNC and the BJP, especially as both parties prepare for upcoming bypolls in Nagrota and Budgam on November 11. Those bypolls were necessitated by the death of MLA Devender Singh Rana and the resignation of Omar Abdullah from his assembly seat.

The BJP, for its part, has not yet responded formally to Abdullah’s allegations. Party leaders are expected to highlight Sharma’s win as proof of its continued presence and influence in the Union Territory despite the NC’s majority.

---

A test of transparency and alliances

With the Rajya Sabha results now under scrutiny, calls for transparency in the voting process are likely to grow louder. Abdullah’s demand for accountability among legislators who allegedly invalidated their ballots could potentially strain relationships within opposition ranks, particularly if cross-voting or errors are proven.

The episode also underscores the complex political arithmetic in Jammu and Kashmir, where alliances and loyalties remain fluid. Even as the NC celebrates its three-seat victory, the BJP’s unexpected success has sparked new debates over influence, integrity, and intra-party discipline.

For Omar Abdullah, the episode is more than just a question of numbers — it is a challenge to the credibility of the electoral process and the integrity of those who participated in it. As he put it bluntly on X:

“There was no cross-voting from any of our MLAs… so where did the four extra votes of the BJP come from?”

Until that question is answered, the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to remain a matter of political controversy and public debate.