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| Cross-voting bombshell: Congress MLA under scanner | | | Sanjay Pandita Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 31: Even as the Assembly session concluded today, the mystery surrounding the seven “silent rebels” within the ruling coalition — who directly or indirectly supported BJP candidate Sat Pal Sharma in the recent Rajya Sabha elections — remains unresolved. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has categorically stated that all National Conference (NC) legislators voted in favour of the party’s official candidates, asserting that “not a single MLA cross-voted in favour of the BJP.” With the NC leadership standing firm on this claim, attention has now shifted toward other non-BJP allies within the coalition. According to highly placed Congress sources, suspicion has fallen on one of the party’s MLAs for alleged cross-voting in the election for the fourth seat under the third notification of the Rajya Sabha polls — the seat eventually won by J&K BJP president Sat Pal Sharma. While no Congress leader has spoken on record, insiders revealed that several senior members have expressed doubts about the role of a particular MLA, alleging that his vote may have tilted the balance in Sharma’s favour. The issue has reportedly triggered unease within party ranks, with some demanding an internal inquiry into the matter. As reported earlier, speculation in political circles continues over the identities of the seven ML The mystery surrounding the seven “silent rebels” who directly or indirectly supported BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate has deepened. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has categorically stated that all NC legislators voted in favour of the party’s official candidates The suspicion has fallen on one of the Congress party’s MLAs for alleged cross-voting in the election for the fourth seat. Several senior members have expressed doubts about the role of a particular MLA, alleging that his vote may have tilted the balance in favour of a BJP candidate. s from the ruling coalition who either cross-voted or indirectly aided the BJP’s victory. Sources suggest that four MLAs openly voted for the BJP candidate, two deliberately invalidated their ballots, and one voted for NC candidate Shami Oberoi, who ended up receiving 31 votes—one more than the required majority of 30. Political observers note that this pattern of voting indirectly helped the BJP secure the fourth seat, making the outcome one of the most intriguing twists in the Rajya Sabha elections. Despite rampant speculation, the exact names of the seven MLAs remain unconfirmed. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while addressing reporters earlier, hinted that he was fully aware of those responsible for the BJP’s surprise win. “I know exactly who helped the BJP secure the fourth seat,” Abdullah said, adding that his disappointment lay not in the act of cross-voting itself, but in the duplicity of the individuals involved. “What concerns me most is that these members attended our meetings, dined with us, and pledged their loyalty to the coalition — yet chose to side with the BJP when it mattered most,” he remarked. With the controversy still simmering and political tempers running high, all eyes are now on the Congress leadership to clarify the role of its members and address growing speculation about internal dissent within the coalition. |
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