SRINAGAR: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed allegations by the rival National Conference (NC) that all its three MLAs voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Kashmir in October last year.
The current war of words between the NC and the PDP stems from a Right to Information (RTI) reply, which says the Mehbooba Mufti-led party did not appoint a polling agent during the Rajya Sabha polls. In those elections, the NC won three seats and the BJP secured the fourth seat despite lacking the required numbers.
Records indicate that at least four MLAs cross-voted in favor of BJP candidate Sat Sharma, who polled 32 votes against the party's strength of 28 in the polling held on October 24, 2025. Despite backing from 59 members, the NC could not win the fourth seat. The PDP has three MLAs in the Kashmir region.
NC demands oath from PDP MLAs
For the past one week, the NC has been asking PDP MLAs to swear by the Quran that they had not voted for the BJP. NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said: “We appointed our agent. But the PDP did not appoint any agent. Now the only way is that PDP president Mehbooba Mufti should swear by the Holy Quran and we will end the issue.”
PDP responds to allegations
PDP MLA Waheed Parra said the NC's outcry over the Rajya Sabha vote is misplaced. “It serves as a diversion from substantive concerns, notably erasure of Urdu from official records,” the MLA said. PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan added that his party did not even field a candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls. “Agents are appointed by candidates, not parties. We had three MLAs at that time and since none of ours contested, appointing agents is not our mandate,” Bhan said.
The PDP maintains that the NC's allegations are baseless and aimed at diverting attention from real issues. The party has reiterated its stance that it had no role in the cross-voting that benefited the BJP.
