The voting on four vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Friday, with all 86 members casting their votes. According to sources, AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, currently under detention in Kathua district jail, voted through a postal ballot, which has been received by the returning officer for counting.
Out of the 88-member House, People's Conference Chief Sajad Gani Lone abstained from voting over personnel differences with the NC government.
With support from the Congress, PDP, CPI (M), and independents, the National Conference-led alliance now commands a strength of 58 votes, sufficient to secure all four Rajya Sabha seats.
Meanwhile, the BJP has 28 assured votes, leaving its chances dependent on possible cross-voting from the INDIA bloc members, which appears to be the very least likely scenario.
Polling formally closes at 4 PM, and counting is expected to confirm a clean sweep for the NC-led alliance.
Despite political differences between the bloc members, they, along with independent candidates, according to sources familiar with the matter, voted decisively against the BJP.
Earlier, NC, PDP, AIP, AAP, CPIM, and independent legislators extended their support to NC to keep BJP out of power in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress chief in J&K, Tariq Hamid Karra, said their differences with the NC must not give the BJP a chance to attain any kind of power in the Rajya Sabha.
While PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said that, even though NC does not deserve the votes, their support for the ruling dispensation is out of compulsion to keep the BJP out of Jammu and Kashmir.
Awami Ittehad Party MLA and independent Shabir Ahmad Kulley said they will vote in favour of the National Conference in the Rajya Sabha elections.
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