SRINAGAR: Alleged cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election last week dominated proceedings in the J&K assembly on Monday morning after deputy CM Surinder Choudhary accused BJP of "stealing four votes".
As Choudhary rose to speak, a BJP legislator interrupted him, leading the deputy CM to make the accusation.
His retort triggered a heated exchange between the treasury and opposition benches, with National Conference (NC) legislators led by Tanvir Sadiq shouting slogans and calling BJP members "vote chor". The BJP legislators responded with counter allegations, ignoring speaker Abdul Rahim Rather's repeated attempts to restore order.
BJP sprung a surprise on NC last Friday in J&K's first Rajya Sabha elections since the abrogation of Article 370, winning one of the four seats at stake with 32 votes, four more than its strength of 28 in the assembly. BJP candidate Sat Sharma's victory came despite NC purportedly having its ally Congress and PDP's backing.
While NC's three candidates – Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi – won comfortably, Sharma's victory led to a speculation about "the additional four members who voted for BJP".
A BJP spokesperson claimed on Monday that some NC members voted for Sharma, inviting an instant denial from CM Omar Abdullah's party.
As Choudhary rose to speak, a BJP legislator interrupted him, leading the deputy CM to make the accusation.
His retort triggered a heated exchange between the treasury and opposition benches, with National Conference (NC) legislators led by Tanvir Sadiq shouting slogans and calling BJP members "vote chor". The BJP legislators responded with counter allegations, ignoring speaker Abdul Rahim Rather's repeated attempts to restore order.
BJP sprung a surprise on NC last Friday in J&K's first Rajya Sabha elections since the abrogation of Article 370, winning one of the four seats at stake with 32 votes, four more than its strength of 28 in the assembly. BJP candidate Sat Sharma's victory came despite NC purportedly having its ally Congress and PDP's backing.
While NC's three candidates – Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi – won comfortably, Sharma's victory led to a speculation about "the additional four members who voted for BJP".
A BJP spokesperson claimed on Monday that some NC members voted for Sharma, inviting an instant denial from CM Omar Abdullah's party.
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