Srinagar: A total of 86 MLAs have cast their votes in the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, while one legislator voted through postal ballot and another abstained from the polling process.
Out of the total 89 MLAs, 86 exercised their franchise in person at the Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar. Doda MLA Mehraj Malik, who is currently under detention under the Public Safety Act, cast his vote through postal ballot from Kathua district jail. However, People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone abstained from voting.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among the first to cast his vote as polling began at 9am at three designated booths inside the Assembly premises. Voting continued until 4pm, with counting scheduled for 5pm.
The Rajya Sabha elections in J&K are being held for four seats. While the National Conference (NC) is comfortably positioned to win three, the contest for the fourth seat remains a tight battle between the NC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The NC’s chances received a boost after independent MLA Sheikh Khursheed, brother of former legislator Engineer Rashid, announced his support for the party “to keep the BJP out.” With Khursheed’s backing, the strength of the NC-led alliance has increased to 58 MLAs—enough to secure both seats in the combined election.
Based on current political alignments, the NC-led bloc comprises 41 NC MLAs, six from Congress, six independents, three from the PDP, one from CPI(M), and Sheikh Khursheed’s support, giving it a one-vote advantage over the BJP’s 28.
Unless there is cross-voting within the ruling alliance, the BJP’s chances of clinching the fourth seat appear slim.
The results, expected later in the evening, will determine whether the NC can convert its numerical edge into a clean sweep. (KNO)
