Srinagar, May 11 (KNB): Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, alleging that both parties together “gifted” a Rajya Sabha seat to the Bharatiya Janata Party during the J&K Rajya Sabha elections.
While addressing a press conference, Lone termed the Rajya Sabha election outcome a “fixed match” and claimed that the entire process raised serious questions about the political conduct of the parties involved.
Citing an RTI response, Lone alleged that the PDP had failed to appoint a polling agent during the Rajya Sabha elections. He said polling agents play a crucial role under anti-defection laws as they monitor and verify the voting process of legislators.
According to Lone, the absence of a PDP polling agent allowed party MLAs to vote “without supervision,” which, he claimed, directly benefited the BJP.
Questioning Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lone asked how the issue allegedly came to light only after the RTI response surfaced. He further questioned why the NC-led government, Assembly staff, and the administration failed to raise objections earlier.
The PC chief alleged that NC and PDP acted in a coordinated manner that indirectly helped the BJP secure political advantage. “PDP allegedly did not appoint an agent and NC allegedly did not object. The entire sequence points towards a fixed arrangement,” he said.
Lone further claimed that the 2024 J&K Assembly elections were fought on an anti-BJP narrative, but later the BJP was indirectly facilitated during the Rajya Sabha polls.
Reiterating his earlier remarks, Lone maintained that he had already described the Rajya Sabha election as a “fixed match” and asserted that recent revelations only strengthened his claims.
He also stated that the Peoples Conference had offered support if the Rajya Sabha seat had been allotted to the Congress party instead.
Besides the political allegations, Lone raised concerns over the growing outsourcing trend in government departments across Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that nearly 22,000 to 24,000 government jobs had been outsourced and claimed that around Rs 1,000 crore was being paid to outsourcing companies.
Lone urged the media and political parties to answer the questions being raised by the public regarding the Rajya Sabha election process and the conduct of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir.(KNB)