Srinagar, October 24, 2025 – In a surprising turn of events at the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Rajya Sabha (RS) elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure one seat, disrupting what was widely anticipated to be a clean sweep by the National Conference (NC). The NC, however, still secured a majority, winning three of the four Rajya Sabha seats. The results mark the first time members of the upper house of Parliament have been elected from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.
The NC candidates who emerged victorious are Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo and G.S. Oberoi (also known as Shammi Oberoi). The BJP's Sat Sharma clinched the fourth seat, defeating NC's Imran Nabi Dar. Sharma's win was unexpected, as he secured 32 votes, exceeding the BJP's strength of 28 in the assembly. This outcome has led to speculation and accusations of cross-voting.
Voting took place at the Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar, with 86 of the 88 MLAs casting their votes. Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone abstained from the voting process. AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, currently detained, voted via postal ballot.
The NC had fielded four candidates: Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi, Sajad Kichloo, and Imran Nabi Dar. The BJP contested three seats with Ali Mohammed Mir, Rakesh Mahajan, and Sat Sharma. Ultimately, only Sharma was victorious.
The results of the election have sparked controversy, with questions arising about how the BJP managed to gain extra votes. NC leaders have alleged that some MLAs broke their promises and cross-voted in favor of the BJP. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the source of BJP's additional votes, noting that all NC votes remained intact. He also alluded to potential behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, asking if those who helped the BJP had the courage to admit it.
In response to the BJP's victory, Sajad Lone of the People's Conference alleged a "fixed match" between the NC and BJP. However, BJP leaders have attributed their win to a "conscience vote," claiming it reflects support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sat Sharma said that the four extra MLAs "listened to their conscience".
The election fills the four Rajya Sabha seats that had been vacant since February 2021, following the completion of terms of PDP MPs Mir Mohammad Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway, BJP MP Shamsher Singh, and former Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The NC's secured seats were largely anticipated due to their strong support base, including 41 members, six from Congress, three from the PDP, one CPI (M) member, and several independents. The BJP's unexpected win has ignited a blame game and raised questions about the integrity of the voting process. Senior NC leaders have vowed to expose those who allegedly betrayed the mandate.
