Srinagar: The first Rajya Sabha elections since Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganisation into a Union Territory will be held on Friday, with political observers predicting three seats for the ruling National Conference (NC) and one for the BJP—if both parties’ strategies hold firm.
The polls for the four Rajya Sabha seats have been notified in three phases. In the first contest, NC’s Chowdhury Mohammed Ramzan will face BJP’s Ali Mohammed Mir. The second seat will see NC’s Sajjad Kitchloo take on BJP’s Rakesh Mahajan, while the third notification covers two seats where NC has fielded G S (Shammi) Oberoi and Imran Nabi Dar against BJP’s Sat Sharma.
The NC on Thursday issued a whip directing all its MLAs to be present and vote in favour of the party’s candidates.
With 41 MLAs of its own, along with the support of six Congress legislators, one CPM member, and six Independents, the NC-led coalition is well-positioned to secure three seats. However, the fourth seat is expected to be closely contested.
Out of the 88-member Assembly, the ruling coalition commands a majority of 54, while the BJP has 28 members. The saffron party’s state president Sat Sharma, contesting under the third notification, gained a crucial advantage after the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) led by Sajad Gani Lone announced that it would abstain from voting.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced optimism that the NC would win all four seats but acknowledged that every non-BJP vote would be essential to achieve a clean sweep.
Congress legislators, however, skipped a key coordination meeting called by the NC on Wednesday. Downplaying their absence, Abdullah said each party has its own internal process.
“They (Congress) have their own system. Their leadership waits for directions from their high command, while we take decisions locally. This is nothing new,” Abdullah told reporters.
On whether Congress’s absence could hurt NC’s prospects, he said the party has consistently maintained it would not support the BJP. “Their high command’s signal will not be one that helps the BJP,” he added.
Abdullah thanked CPM leader M Y Tarigami and several Independents for attending the meeting, expressing confidence in the NC’s chances.
“I see great enthusiasm among our members and allies. I am confident our candidates will win all four seats,” he said.
On potential PDP support, Abdullah said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had assured that her party would take the “right decision” after internal consultations.
“One of our candidates, Shammi Oberoi, met Mehbooba Mufti and requested her support. Our president Dr. Farooq Abdullah also spoke to her,” he said. “While she hasn’t made an announcement, she has assured us she will discuss it with her colleagues and decide accordingly.”
Jammu and Kashmir’s four Rajya Sabha seats have been vacant since February 2021, when the terms of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Nazir Ahmed Laway, Fayaz Ahmed Mir, and Shamsher Singh Manhas expired.
