RTI reply fuels political storm… War of Words Over J&K RS Polls as BJP, NC, PDP Trade ‘Match-Fixing’ Charges

• Abid Bashir
• Comments 0
• 30 Apr 2026

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We had 28 MLAs, got 32 votes; NC, PDP, Cong, PC must sit together to find out who cross voted: BJP BJP, NC, PDP colluded for 'match-fixing' during Rajya Sabha polls: Sajad Lone As a recognised Party, PDP was supposed to appoint polling agents, Why did Sajad abstain: NC Agents are appointed by the candidates not parties, its an attempt to divert attention from Urdu language: PDP

Srinagar, Apr 29: A fresh political slugfest has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over last year’s Rajya Sabha elections, with leaders from major parties trading sharp allegations of “match-fixing”, cross-voting and procedural lapses.

BJP J&K spokesman Altaf Thakur defended his party’s performance, stating that the BJP secured more votes than its legislative strength due to support from like-minded legislators.

“All three parties must sit and find out who resorted to match fixing. This will help these parties find out who is A team, who is B team C team. In fact, more teams will come to the fore,” Thakur said.

He added that while the BJP had 28 MLAs, it secured 32 votes, asserting that the additional support came from those who “love Prime Minister Narender Modi and his policies.”

The controversy intensified following disclosures that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not appoint a polling agent during the 2024 Rajya Sabha polls, triggering accusations that the move may have indirectly aided the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.

The elections, held in October 2025 — the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 — saw the National Conference win three seats, while BJP’s Sat Sharma clinched the fourth with 32 votes, despite the party having only 28 MLAs. The result led to the defeat of NC candidate Imran Nabi Dar and sparked suspicions of cross-voting and alleged horse-trading.

An RTI response from the J&K Assembly secretariat revealed that the NC, Congress and BJP had appointed two authorised agents each, while the PDP — which then had three MLAs (now four after a bypoll win from Budgam) — had not appointed any.

In the polls, Congress, PDP, CPI(M) and Awami Ittehad Party had supported NC candidates, while the People’s Conference abstained.

Under Rajya Sabha election rules, voting is conducted through an open ballot system, requiring MLAs to show their marked ballot paper to their party’s authorised agent before casting the vote. Failure to do so allows the agent to request cancellation of the vote.

People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone earlier cited his 2015 experience to underline the importance of appointing agents, questioning how parties like NC and PDP could claim ignorance of the rules.

“That NC did not insist on the appointment of agents and PDP simply did not appoint agents, hints at a much bigger spread in match fixing.”

“The RTI by @umerjournalist strongly indicates that at least three parties BJP, NC and PDP, were a part of the Rajya Sabha match fixing. And that BJP could not have won the Rajya Sabha seat without the support of NC and PDP,” he posted on X.

Political reactions have since snowballed. Allegations surfaced suggesting that possible reasons for cross-voting by PDP legislators could include inducements, access to power corridors and political opportunism.

However, PDP State spokesman Syed Tajamul Islam rejected the allegations, maintaining that the party had no obligation to appoint agents.

“Agents are appointed by the candidates not parties. We have four MLAs and none of ours contested. Appointing agents isn’t our mandate,” he said. “PDP didn’t even field a candidate. NC’s own president thanked PDP for the votes, yet you keep on attacking PDP at every turn. NC candidate lost by 14 votes. It is just to avoid the public concentration from the Urdu issue and school closures in NC rule.”

Responding to the controversy, NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said the disclosures had clarified how the BJP managed to win the seat. “We have been reminded that the BJP-PDP alliance is intact,” he said. “They supported the same party which snatched our rights. PDP has stabbed Kashmiris in their back. PDP didn’t appoint the polling agents and as per the rule mandated, it was supposed to do so.”

Dar also targeted Sajad Lone, questioning his abstention during the polls. “As far PC chief Sajad Lone is concerned, Dar said he must first clarify why he abstained, he is the one who helped BJP. By abstaining, he helped the BJP,” Dar claimed. With allegations and counter-allegations flying thick and fast, the controversy has once again put the spotlight on transparency and political alignments in Jammu and Kashmir’s electoral politics.