In a significant political development, the National Conference (NC) has announced it will contest all four Rajya Sabha seats independently. This decision follows the Congress party’s withdrawal from the race, despite initial arrangements for them to contest one seat. NC leader Omar Abdullah did not hold back in accusing the BJP of resorting to ‘horse-trading’ to win any seats. He argued that the BJP lacks the necessary numbers, requiring 30 votes for the fourth seat with only 28 MLAs, and suggested that any victory would be secured through unethical means like ‘money power, muscle power, or agency influence.’ Abdullah drew a parallel between these potential tactics and alleged BJP involvement in the Bihar elections.
The Rajya Sabha polls are expected to unmask legislative allegiances, identifying lawmakers who secretly back the BJP and those who truly oppose it. Abdullah issued a stern warning: any MLA abstaining or voting in favor of the BJP will be exposed to the public. He highlighted that beyond the 18 BJP MLAs, there has been minimal support for the party in the past year, making these elections a definitive measure of political alignment. He also refuted claims that his father, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, was denied a mandate, stating that his father’s decision to step aside was health-related and a reflection of his respected position nationally.