Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the inauguration of a multi-purpose sports complex at Government Degree College, Tangmarg, in Baramulla on May 6, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI
The ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) engaged in a war of words over the Rajya Sabha elections and the closure of a seminary-cum-school in Kashmir.
“Those who helped the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls have been exposed through Right to Information (RTI). No one from my side will act against the organization,” said J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who inaugurated the multi-purpose sports complex at Government Degree College, Tangmarg, in north Kashmir.
In October 2025, J&K held three rounds of voting for four Rajya Sabha seats. According to data from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the third round had the highest number of invalid votes at three out of 87 cast. BJP’s Sat Sharma got 32 votes, four more than their strength, and NC candidates, Shammi Oberoi got 31 votes and Imran Nabi Dar got 21 votes. In the third round, which was won by the BJP, the NC lost seven votes, with four cross-polls and three votes invalid.
According to RTI, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had three votes, did not appoint election agents. The party publicly offered support to the NC. However, the NC is now casting doubt on the PDP voting pattern.
The PDP accused the ruling NC of using the issue as a diversionary tactic. “Basically, this is not about the Rajya Sabha – it serves as a diversion from the substantive interests, especially the Siraj-ul-Aloom dispute and erasure of Urdu from official records,” said PDP lawmaker Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra.
The PDP accused the NC of disintegrating the Peoples Agenda for the Gupkar Declaration, an amalgamation of parties in J&K formed after the Center ended the special status in 2019.
Mr. Parra said the PDP president had shown magnanimity and decided “neither to abstain nor to impose conditions”.
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“Rather than dwelling on one Rajya Sabha seat lost and blaming the PDP, the government would do well to focus on ensuring that your already existing 50 MLAs and five MPs provide effective governance,” Mr. Parra said.
Meanwhile, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti accused the NC of dragging the Holy Quran into the political rivalry. “I wish the NC leaders had opened their mouths when the Waqf Bill was passed. They would have spoken when the Siraj-ul-Uloom school was closed,” Ms Mufti said.
She accused the NC of keeping silent on the surveillance of mosque committees, maulvis and imams, apart from allegedly “destroying” Urdu.
“People’s houses are being demolished in the name of drug dealers. Before that, houses of militant sympathizers were demolished. Employees are being fired from government jobs. They are watching a spectacle,” she added.
Published – 07 May 2026 06:00 IST
