Srinagar, Oct 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the National Conference (NC) faced a setback in the race for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat, insisting that none of the party legislators cross-voted in the elections.
Speaking after the results were announced, Omar said the party had aimed for a clean sweep of all four seats but fell short because of a last-minute “betrayal” by some allies. “No one should be upset about the 3–1 result. We tried for 4–0, but, as I mentioned on Twitter, some people betrayed us at the final stage,” he said, declining to name anyone.
“Almost everyone knows who turned their backs. It’s regrettable, but I sincerely thank the Congress and other allies who supported the National Conference,” he added.
The Chief Minister emphasized that all NC votes were properly cast and none were wasted. “Not a single NC vote was lost. All our voters showed their polling slips to the Chief Agent,” he said, dismissing reports of internal discord.
Omar also took a veiled dig at those he said were secretly aiding the BJP. “These people stayed with us, attended our meetings, shared meals, and then went over to the BJP. It would have been better if they had openly admitted their intentions, like the MLA from Handwara who abstained instead of voting against us,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude to PDP legislators and other allies who supported NC candidates. “Those who voted for us and helped our candidates succeed deserve thanks. I hope our new Rajya Sabha representatives will raise crucial issues — from restoration of statehood to constitutional guarantees and special status — in the people’s interest,” he said.
In the elections, the National Conference secured three of the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP won one. Sources said the loss of the fourth seat came down to just a few pivotal votes that slipped away in the final tally.
