The National Conference (NC) will contest all four upcoming Rajya Sabha seats independently, following the Congress party’s decision not to field a candidate. This move comes as NC leader Omar Abdullah directly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in ‘horse-trading’ to secure any seats. Abdullah asserted that the BJP lacks the sufficient legislative strength to win any seats without external support, highlighting their need for 30 votes for the fourth seat compared to their 28 MLAs. He warned that any BJP victory beyond their inherent numbers would be a result of ‘money power, muscle power, or the use of agencies.’ Abdullah suggested that such an outcome would validate concerns raised about the BJP’s actions in the Bihar elections.
These Rajya Sabha elections are anticipated to reveal the true allegiances of legislators, exposing those who covertly support the BJP versus those who genuinely oppose it. Abdullah cautioned that any legislator abstaining or voting in favor of the BJP would be publicly identified. He emphasized that in the past year, only the 18 BJP MLAs have actively supported the party, making these elections a critical test of political alignment. The decision for the NC to contest all seats arose after the Congress, which was initially allocated one seat, opted out despite having a strong chance of winning the fourth. Addressing speculation, Abdullah clarified that his father, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, was not denied a mandate for a Rajya Sabha seat, stating that he voluntarily stepped aside due to health considerations, recognizing his significant leadership status.