Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 29: The controversy surrounding the “seven silent rebels” MLAs—who allegedly cross-voted or indirectly supported the BJP candidate Sat Pal Sharma in the October 2025 Rajya Sabha elections—has resurfaced following a reply obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
With non-BJP parties yet to identify the legislators who aided the BJP, the RTI response has added a new dimension to the issue, revealing that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not appoint any polling agent to monitor the voting of its MLAs.
The disclosure has triggered a fresh political storm, with the ruling National Conference (NC) accusing the PDP of facilitating the BJP’s victory in a contest where it allegedly lacked the required numbers. Citing the RTI findings, the NC claimed that the PDP was the only party that failed to deploy a chief agent during the Rajya Sabha polls held in October last year, thereby allowing scope for cross-voting.
NC spokesperson and the party’s Rajya Sabha candidate Imran Nabi Dar said the RTI findings had taken the matter beyond mere political allegations. “It is now clear—not through political accusations but via RTI—that the source of votes enabling the BJP’s victory has been revealed,” he said.
In the October 2025 elections, the NC secured three seats—Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, and Gurwinder Singh Oberoi—while the BJP won one seat through its then state president Sat Sharma. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier termed the outcome a “betrayal,” questioning how the BJP secured 32 votes despite having only 28 MLAs in the Assembly at that time.
The NC has drawn parallels with the 2014 PDP-BJP coalition, suggesting that the latest revelations point to a tacit understanding between the two parties. It also accused the PDP of maintaining an “a PDP did not appoint any polling agent to monitor the voting of its MLAs.
Citing the RTI findings, the NC claimed that the PDP was the only party that failed to deploy a chief agent.
CM Omar had earlier termed the outcome a “betrayal,” questioning how the BJP secured 32 votes despite having only 28 MLAs in the Assembly at that time.
The NC has drawn parallels with the 2014 PDP-BJP coalition, suggesting that the latest revelations point to a tacit understanding between the two parties.
Notably, ahead of the polls, the PDP had publicly declared that it would support NC candidates to prevent “communal and fascist forces” from gaining ground in Jammu and Kashmir. The party has yet to issue a formal response to the RTI disclosures.
The development comes amid lingering tensions within the regional alliance, including earlier disagreements between the NC and the Congress over seat-sharing arrangements for the same election.
Meanwhile, speculation continues over the identity of the seven MLAs believed to have played a role in the BJP’s victory. According to sources, four MLAs are suspected to have cross-voted in favour of the BJP, two allegedly invalidated their ballots deliberately, and one voted for NC candidate Shami Oberoi, who secured 31 votes—one more than the required majority.
Political observers believe this voting pattern indirectly enabled the BJP to clinch a fourth seat, making the election outcome one of the most intriguing in recent years. However, the identities of the legislators involved remain unconfirmed.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier indicated that he was aware of those responsible for the BJP’s unexpected win.
“I know exactly who helped the BJP secure the fourth seat,” he said, adding that his concern was less about cross-voting and more about the duplicity of those involved.
“What concerns me most is that these members attended our meetings, dined with us, and pledged loyalty to the coalition—yet chose to side with the BJP when it mattered most,” he remarked.
With the controversy far from over and political tempers running high, attention is now turning to the Congress leadership to clarify the role of its MLAs and address growing speculation about internal dissent within the alliance. |