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Jammu, October 24 (IANS) Union Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said that there is a strong possibility of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning a record number of seats in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Speaking to IANS, Kiren Rijiju said, “It is clearly visible that the people of Bihar are with the NDA. BJP, JDU and other allies are working with complete unity. This is a one-sided contest. This time the NDA is likely to get a record number of seats.”
He also criticized the opposition alliance, the Grand Alliance, and called its members “opportunists”.
“There is no real alliance in the grand alliance. They are just opportunists who are fighting for power and sharing seats among themselves. But if the people give their mandate, how will they share those seats?” Rijiju told IANS.
The Union Minister also reacted to the Rajya Sabha by-election held in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
He said, “Rajya Sabha by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir have been completed. We are hopeful of a good result. Whatever the result, we will accept it because it is the essence of democracy. However, it is difficult to say who supports whom inside the House.”
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir ended peacefully as 86 MLAs cast their votes, while detained Doda MLA Mehraj Malik voted through postal ballot, and People’s Conference (PC) MLA Sajjad Lone remained absent from the voting process.
Voting took place in the Legislative Assembly complex of Srinagar.
By-elections are going to be held on November 11 after two seats, Nagrota and Budgam, fell vacant in the total 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
The results of all four Rajya Sabha seats will be declared after 4 pm
Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) Khurshid Ahmed has also announced support to the NC alliance.
With its 41 MLAs voting with the support of six Congress, five independents, CPI (one MLA from M), three from PDP and one MLA from AIP, the NC candidates have an edge over their BJP rivals.
The BJP can win the fourth seat only if there is some cross voting by those who had otherwise declared support for NC candidates.
NC has nominated Muhammad Ramzan Choudhary, Sajjad Kitchlu, Shami Oberoi and Imran Nabi Dar.
The BJP has nominated three candidates, including its Jammu and Kashmir president Sat Sharma.
If NC does not get more than 28 votes for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat, then BJP alone with 28 votes will have a chance for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat.
–IANS
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