BJP offered us deal in RS polls, we rejected: Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar, Oct 25: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday rejected allegations that the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir were a “fixed match” with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said the BJP had approached NC with an offer to leave the fourth seat for them, but the party had rejected it and preferred a contest.

“Had we gifted it, then how did our fourth candidate secure 21 votes? We did not give any gift. They came to us saying, let there not be an election — we (NC) take three and give them (BJP) one. We said no, we will contest and it will be decided on the ground,” Abdullah said.

He expressed gratitude to Congress, PDP, AIP, and independent MLAs, including those from Langate and Shopian, for supporting NC candidates. “All MLAs of our party remained united; they could not break even one. There were media reports about disunity, but we remained united. I am thankful to Mehbooba ji and the Congress,” he said.

Abdullah acknowledged that while NC’s three candidates won, it was “regretful” that the fourth candidate could not secure victory because some MLAs did not honor their promise of support. “He got 21 votes but could not win because some people did not keep the promise they had made. Such things happen in elections. God knows whether it was a betrayal or what. But I am thankful to God that we won three seats,” he said, downplaying claims of a “fixed match.”

Addressing the cross-voting allegations made by People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, Abdullah dismissed them as “propaganda.” Lone had claimed that NC had “gifted” seven votes to BJP and suggested a pact with Delhi. “Had we not made any preparations, how did we get 21 votes? This is a misunderstanding; there is no truth in this,” Abdullah said.

On Congress’s role in the polls, Abdullah said party chief Tariq Hamid Karra “has the right to say anything” but clarified that NC had offered Congress the Nagrota assembly seat, which they did not take. “I spoke to the Congress high command myself. They said at midnight that they would contest,” he added.

Abdullah also addressed governance concerns, including criticism over electricity metering. He reminded citizens that power is not free and called for fiscal responsibility. “Wherefrom are we going to pay for that? Even when I was CM in 1984, I said power is not free. We are paying thousands of crores, which could have been spent on welfare. If you have to save this state, then we must adopt austerity and bear it. Nothing is free,” he said.

The NC president also commented on broader political issues, including upcoming elections in Bihar. “The BJP should lose there,” he said, reflecting his continued criticism of the party.

With these statements, Abdullah sought to clarify NC’s position in the Rajya Sabha elections, defend the party’s record, and counter allegations of backroom deals, emphasizing party unity, preparation, and adherence to principles in the electoral process.