The political climate in Jammu and Kashmir intensifies as nine candidates, including four from the National Conference (NC) and three from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), filed nominations for four Rajya Sabha seats. The nominations occurred today in front of the Returning Officer, Manoj Pandita, Secretary of the Assembly.
The elections, scheduled for later this month, signify a crucial moment as the NC-led alliance holds a comfortable majority with 53 MLAs. Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan from the NC is likely to secure his seat without relying on Congress’ support, while the BJP, backed by 28 MLAs, is poised for a competitive race.
Under the first notification, candidates Ramzan, Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir from the BJP, and independent candidate Prabhakar Dada put forth their nominations for one Rajya Sabha seat. Predictions suggest Ramzan’s victory is almost assured.
In the second round of nominations, Sajad Kichloo of the NC and BJP’s Rakesh Mahajan are competing for another single seat. Analysts note that Kichloo mirrors Ramzan’s favorable position and is favoured to win.
For the third notification concerning two available seats, nominees include NC’s Gurwinder Singh Oberoi (alias Shammi Oberoi), Imran Dar, BJP’s Sat Pal Sharma, and independent candidate Kante Sayanna. Political observers note that the two candidates with the highest votes will secure these seats.
Predictions indicate that Gurwinder Singh Oberoi may receive up to 29 votes from the NC alliance, with Imran Dar projected to attain 24 votes. Meanwhile, the BJP legislators may allocate all 28 votes to Sharma, enhancing the stakes for the party.
BJP candidate Rakesh Mahajan expressed gratitude towards the party leadership, displaying optimism for the upcoming elections. He stated, “I am thankful to the national leadership for this honour. I am sure we will win all three seats. The BJP gives equal opportunity to every worker, and all get their due right,” further emphasizing the party’s commitment to democracy.
Sat Sharma, the BJP president, highlighted the party’s determination, noting, “We will fight with all our strength and script history. We aim to win more than one seat this time.” His remarks aimed to rally support and reinforce the BJP’s election strategy.
Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir echoed the sentiments of his party colleagues, stating, “Entire Kashmir is happy. I thank the central leadership for considering me competent for this responsibility.” His statement reflects the BJP’s emphasis on local sentiment.
In response, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq confirmed the completion of the nomination process and reiterated confidence in winning all four seats. “We are confident of winning all four seats. However, it is unfortunate that Congress did not agree to what was offered. I urge all secular forces to support our candidates,” he remarked, hinting at the political complexities in assembling a unified front.
Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, who seeks to voice developmental and political concerns in Parliament, reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the region. “We will come up to people’s expectations. There are a number of issues — developmental and political — that must be addressed, and we will talk about them,” he pledged.
The Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir have attracted significant attention, with both major parties positioning themselves aggressively to capture seats, assured of a highly competitive electoral process.
