The National Conference (NC) and the BJP have vehemently denied accusations of a "fixed match" in the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. NC President Farooq Abdullah stated that his party explicitly turned down a BJP offer for a pre-arranged outcome, opting instead for a genuine contest. He also dismissed claims by People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, who alleged that the NC deliberately "gifted" seven votes to the BJP.
These strong denials follow Friday’s election results (October 24, 2025), where the ruling NC secured three seats, while the BJP won one. This marked the first Rajya Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir since it became a Union Territory in 2019. J&K BJP president Sat Sharma emerged victorious, defeating NC candidate Imran Nabi Dar with 32 votes.
Addressing reporters, Mr. Abdullah challenged the "fixed match" narrative, asking, "If we had gifted it, how did our fourth candidate manage to secure 21 votes? We didn’t give any gift. The BJP approached us suggesting no election, with NC taking three seats and them one. We refused, insisting on a contest to be decided on the ground."
Also Read: National Conference wins three Rajya Sabha seats in J&K; ‘cross-voting’ gives BJP one
He extended his gratitude to both the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for their support to the NC candidates. Mr. Abdullah emphasized the unity within his own party, confidently stating that the BJP failed to sway any of their MLAs. "All MLAs of our party remained united; they couldn’t break even one. Despite some media reports questioning our unity, we stood together. We are thankful to Mehbooba Mufti’s party (PDP), the Congress party, and independent legislators, including those from Langate and Shopian, who supported us," he affirmed. When pressed about the PDP’s support, Mr. Abdullah unequivocally confirmed, "Yes, PDP supported us. I am thankful to them, I thank Mehbooba ji."
While pleased with the NC’s victory on three seats, Mr. Abdullah expressed regret that their fourth candidate couldn’t win, attributing it to some MLAs who "backtracked" on their promised support. "He received 21 votes but couldn’t win because some individuals didn’t uphold their promise," he explained. When questioned if this was a miscalculation or a "betrayal," Mr. Abdullah calmly remarked, "Such things happen in an election." He concluded, "God knows whether it was a betrayal or what. But, I am thankful to God that we won three seats." He further downplayed any "fixed match" allegations between the NC and BJP.
Drawing a historical parallel, the former Chief Minister of J&K reflected, "Allegations were made even against our Prophet, and we are nothing in comparison to him. Allegations will continue to be leveled, and we have to fight them."
Also Read: Ahead of J&K Rajya Sabha byelections, Congress and PDP extend support to NC
Meanwhile, Sunil Sharma, the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, thanked the seven legislators who "rejected" the NC and voted for the BJP candidate. "We don’t know who they are, but it’s clear they rejected the NC government and delivered a warning. We welcome these seven legislators because the BJP secured the seat thanks to them. There might be more who are discontent with the government," he stated. Sharma insisted that the BJP did not contact any legislators directly but rather "requested them to vote for the party to reject the current government’s ‘anti-people’ policies." He, too, rejected Sajad Lone’s accusation that the Rajya Sabha election was a "fixed match" between NC and BJP.
Earlier, at a press conference, Mr. Lone directly blamed the NC for the BJP’s success, asserting, "You (NC) have clearly gifted seven members to the BJP. It was a fixed match." He further elaborated, "Today, we have caught them (NC) red-handed in their (BJP’s) lap… I am saying this with authority that all the cross-voting was done by the NC," claiming the results were not due to "horse-trading" but a clear "understanding." Lone even alleged, "The NC had a pact with Delhi. The BJP’s real tally is 70, including 42 from the NC, and not just 32 (28 party MLAs plus four who supported it in the polls)."
Mr. Abdullah dismissed claims that the NC hadn’t adequately prepared for the fourth seat as mere "propaganda." "If we hadn’t made any preparations, how would we have garnered 21 votes? This is a misunderstanding; this is propaganda. There is no truth in this," he countered.
Regarding J&K Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra’s reported satisfaction that the Congress didn’t contest the fourth seat, leaving it to the NC, Mr. Abdullah remarked that Mr. Karra "has the right to say anything." He added, "We offered them the Nagrota assembly seat (where a bypoll is taking place), but they didn’t even accept that. What’s the reason? You should ask them. I personally spoke to the Congress high command. They initially told me at midnight that they would contest." He expressed optimism that the NC candidate would eventually win that particular seat.
Shifting to broader politics, the NC president commented on the Bihar assembly elections, stating, "The BJP should lose there."
Addressing concerns about the NC’s promise of 200 units of free electricity and public "resentment" over smart meter installations, Mr. Abdullah clarified that J&K does not receive free electricity. "Where are we going to get the funds to pay for that? I have always maintained that power is not free, even when I was Chief Minister in 1984. We are currently paying thousands of crores of rupees that could otherwise be spent on public welfare. Do you consider that? Do you consider the issue of power theft?" He concluded with a call for responsibility: "If we are to preserve this state and its unique identity, we must embrace austerity and endure these challenges. Nothing truly comes free. If we want to safeguard our freedom, we must face these difficulties."