NC Helped BJP in Rajya Sabha Elections, Claims Sajad Lone
By Times of Kashmir News Desk | October 25, 2025
SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the National Conference (NC), accusing it of cross-voting in favour of the BJP during the recent Rajya Sabha elections. He also vowed to start a mass campaign against Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy, saying it was “killing merit.”
According to a report by Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Lone said his party will soon begin a “full-fledged movement” against what he described as an unjust and discriminatory policy affecting deserving candidates.
“This government is out to kill merit. Open merit has been buried. We will start a ground-level registration drive against this policy,” Lone said, warning that the system is “pushing Kashmir towards a major disaster.”
Lone said that the Peoples Conference would take the protest to every district if necessary. “We will go door to door. If hunger strikes or mass protests are required, we will not hesitate. Enough is enough,” he asserted.
He further alleged that during the Rajya Sabha polls, seven MLAs from the National Conference cross-voted in favour of the BJP, helping the party secure victory in a “fixed match.”
“All cross-voting was done by NC members. They directly gifted their votes to BJP. It was all pre-planned,” Lone told KNO.
He accused NC of pretending to oppose the BJP in public while maintaining a covert understanding behind the scenes. “Our people must open their eyes. NC has always misled the public. They claim to fight BJP but secretly work together,” he added.
Lone also criticised Omar Abdullah and said that Congress was deliberately offered an unwinnable seat. “Omar Abdullah asked why Congress doesn’t contest for seat number four — because they wanted it that way,” he remarked.
He further argued that as a national party, Congress should have been prioritized over regional parties like NC. “A national party’s presence in Parliament carries weight; regional ones only seek favours,” he said.
According to KNO, Lone went on to accuse NC’s former Rajya Sabha MPs of failing to deliver anything for