Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma on Friday won the fourth Rajya Sabha seat from the Union Territory, securing 32 votes—four more than the BJP’s total strength of 28 MLAs.

The result came as a surprise to many political observers, as the Congress, PDP, and several independent legislators had earlier announced their support for the National Conference (NC) candidate. Sharma’s victory was celebrated by the BJP as a “defeat of regional politics.”

Soon after the results were declared, several political leaders raised questions about how the BJP candidate managed to secure four votes above the party’s strength. Possible cross-voting by independents and legislators outside the BJP fold is believed to have played a decisive role in Sharma’s win.

The BJP had fielded Sat Sharma against

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