Prominent Activist Raja Shakeel Activist Slams ‘Betrayal of Democracy’ in J-K Rajya Sabha Polling

Activist Slams ‘Betrayal of Democracy’ in J-K Rajya Sabha Polling

Doda, October 24 — Prominent social activist Raja Shakeel on Friday condemned the outcome of the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, describing the cross-voting by four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a “dark day for political ethics” in the region.

The elections, held earlier this week, saw unexpected defections that tilted the balance towards the BJP candidate, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process in the Union Territory. Mr. Shakeel, known for his advocacy on issues of governance and human rights, accused the defecting legislators of hypocrisy, pointing to their public rhetoric against the BJP.

“Those who used to preach about saving democracy have themselves betrayed it,” Mr. Shakeel said in a strongly worded statement issued. “This is a dark day for political ethics in J&K. The same MLAs who spoke against BJP in public, voted for them in secret — this exposes their double standards and the hollowness of their politics.”

The cross-votes, reportedly from non-BJP aligned MLAs, have sparked a broader debate on the fragility of alliances in J&K’s fractured political landscape, where the absence of a directly elected government since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 has left the legislative assembly in a caretaker mode. Official results confirmed the BJP’s victory, but the secrecy of the ballot has fuelled allegations of behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Mr. Shakeel further characterised such “backdoor deals” as an “insult to the people’s mandate,” arguing that they undermine the electorate’s trust in representative institutions. He called for immediate measures to enhance accountability, including the public disclosure of the identities of those who cross-voted.

“The names of those who cross-voted must be made public to uphold transparency and restore people’s faith in democracy,” he demanded, urging the Election Commission of India to intervene and enforce stricter norms on legislative voting.

Political observers noted that the episode echoes past instances of floor-crossing in J&K, but in the context of the Rajya Sabha polls — conducted through proportional representation by the 90-member assembly — the implications for national representation are particularly acute. The BJP’s win secures its foothold in the Upper House from the region, potentially influencing debates on J&K’s special status and integration.