DH NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar, Oct 13
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the BJP cannot win even one of the four Rajya Sabha seats, which are going to polls later this month, without horse trading.
“The BJP cannot win three Rajya Sabha seats (in JK) without horse trading. BJP cannot win even one seat without horse trading,” Abdullah told reporters here.
His remarks were in response to the BJP’s claims that they would secure all three Rajya Sabha seats for which they have fielded candidates in Jammu and Kashmir.
The chief minister explained that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needs 30 MLAs to win the fourth seat, but the principal opposition party in the Union Territory has only 28 seats.
“There is not a single MLA other than the 28 who are with the BJP that has shown any support to the BJP up until now in the past year. If they are claiming to win three seats, it is money, power, muscle power and the power of the agencies. Let us see. If they really want to win this election by intimidation or horse trading, they are proving the allegations against them in Bihar are correct. Otherwise, as numbers go, the BJP is not in a position to win even one seat,” he added.
Abdullah noted that the results of the upcoming elections for the four Rajya Sabha seats in the Union Territory will clarify which parties support or oppose the BJP.
The biennial elections to fill the seats, which have been vacant since 2021, will take place on October 24.
“This election will be a true test of who is with the BJP and who is against the BJP. BJP has 28 MLAs; anybody who abstains (from voting) or votes in favour of the BJP, it will be well known to the people who the true friends of the BJP are,” he said.
Abdullah also mentioned that the National Conference would put forward a candidate for the fourth seat.
“We named three candidates and felt that Congress had the best chance on the fourth seat, but they felt otherwise,” he said.
Responding to a query, the chief minister said there was no question of sidelining party president Farooq Abdullah. “He is an asset and the tallest leader of Jammu and Kashmir. He is one of the most respected leaders of the country. Who would dare to refuse Farooq Sahib if he wanted to contest Rajya Sabha polls?” he said.
The chief minister also ruled out the NC president contesting the Budgam assembly by-election, saying, “a person who decided not to contest Rajya Sabha would not put himself through the rigours of an assembly election campaign”.
Regarding candidates for the Budgam and Nagrota by-elections, the chief minister said these would be announced in due course.
