BJP in a bind on cross-voting J&K MLAs

The Bharatiya Janata Party now has problems with its Jammu and Kashmir unit. Seven of its MLAs have come here to meet party president Nitin Gadkari after being summoned after voting for the National Conference-Congress alliance there in the legislative council elections.

During last week’s elections, seven of the 11 BJP MLAs stepped out of line in this way. Gadkari demanded their resignation. “All the 11 MLAs have sent the letter of reignation to Gadkari, addressed to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly speaker. The party leadership is extremely upset. They should not have acted against the party even if they had issues,” said a senior party leader. Gadkari held consultations with all the MLAs individually this evening.

As a result of the cross-voting, the National Conference won three council seats, the Congress Party got two and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party won one. The lone BJP candidate, Ranjit Singh, received only four votes, although he should have received 11. The BJP is in a dilemma on what action to take, which is why it had called the MLAs to Delhi.