4 alliance MLAs back BJP; 2 votes cancelled, 1 extra cast
Srinagar, Oct 24: In an outcome that has brought seven party-affiliated MLAs and independents in Jammu & Kashmir under scrutiny, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win the fourth seat due to cross-voting by MLAs, “deliberate” cancellation of votes and an intentional extra votes for one of the NC’s candidate.
In a result keenly watched across Jammu Kashmir, BJP candidate Sat Pal Sharma secured 32 votes, four more than strength of BJP, indicating that four MLAs of the ruling alliance and its supporters have voted in his favour.
The second winner on the seat, Shammi Oberoi polled 31 votes, one more than the required number which should have gone in favour of NC’s another candidate, Imran Nabi Dar. NC leadership is yet to reveal strength of voting blocs constituted by it for candidates contesting on the 3rd and 4th seat.
Imran Nabi Dar-who had the assured support of 28 or 29 MLAs, polled only 21 votes- seven or eight less than he was to secure.
NC’s two candidate had support of 58 MLAs- 41 NC, six Cogress, seven independents, three PDP MLAs and one CPI (M)- enough to win both 3rd and 4th seats but they managed to get only 51 votes.
The BJP’s victory makes it unambiguously clear that the party benefited from cross-voting and deliberate cancellation and an intentional extra vote by seven MLAs.
The cross-voting in RS polls is expected to trigger a war of words between political parties and could become a major issue in Jammu and Kashmir’s politics in the coming days.
The cross voting is likely to put into spotlight the composition of voting blocs constituted by the ruling alliance for Rajya Sabha polls.
It has also brought into spotlight the role of authorized polling agents kept by political parties.
Sources said that all political parties, except the People’s Democratic Party, had appointed authorized polling agents to verify the marked votes of their MLAs before they were placed into the ballot box.
“There was no substitute authorized polling agent for Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat, who was the party’s polling agent, when he cast his vote,” sources said.
When contacted, Bhat said that he showed his vote to himself. “I was chief polling agent and I had to show my vote to myself,” he said.
Sources in NC claimed that PDP MLAs were asked to vote for Imran Nabi Dar instead of Shammi Oberoi.
“They had agreed to it,” a top NC leader disclosed.
Unlike independents, the MLAs belonging to political parties have to display their marked votes to authorized polling agents before putting them in the ballot box.
Omar alleges ‘Manipulation’ in RS Polls
Seeks answers on BJP’s extra votes
Srinagar, Oct 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday alleged possible manipulation in the Rajya Sabha elections held in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that the BJP received “four extra votes” despite NC’s tally remaining intact.
Omar in a post on X said, “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 questions arise, where did the 4 extra votes of the BJP come from?”
He further questioned, “Who were the MLAs who deliberately invalidated their votes by marking a wrong preference number while voting? Do they have the courage to admit to helping the BJP after promising us their support? What pressure or inducement made them take this step?”
Omar said it was time for “those who secretly aided the BJP” to come forward and accept responsibility. His remarks follow the Rajya Sabha poll results, where NC won three seats and the BJP secured one after a close contest.
