BJP eyes Rajya Sabha seats as J&K gears up for crucial elections

Congress vs NC rift in alliance over RS candidature deepens

JAMMU: The political dominance in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a surge of activity over the impending Rajya Sabha elections for four vacant seats, even though the Election Commission has yet to announce the schedule.
The National Conference (NC) and Congress, alliance partners in the region, are already positioning themselves, with NC pushing for confirmation of three of the four seats. Meanwhile, Congress, with six MLAs, is advocating for one seat, suggesting former minister Saifuddin Soz as their candidate. However, NC is reportedly resistant to Soz's candidature or that of his son.
Simultaneously, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to claim two seats. Prominent contenders within the BJP include former Deputy Chief Ministers Dr. Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta, as well as ex-state president Ravindra Raina.
On the NC front, Dr. Farooq Abdullah appears almost certain to secure a seat, with Ajay Sadotra, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Khalid Najeeb Soharwardy, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, and Agha Mahmood vying for the remaining two.
Notably, except for Agha Mahmood, all NC contenders have faced defeats in elections since 2014. Agha Mahmood, a significant Shia leader, is credited with mobilizing the Shia community’s support for NC candidates in the valley.
In the current assembly of 90 seats, the NC-Congress-CPI(M) alliance holds 49 members, bolstered by the support of five independents, giving them a solid edge to secure three seats.
On the other hand, the BJP, with 28 members, is poised to claim one seat. The last Rajya Sabha elections in the region were held in February 2015, with the then PDP-BJP alliance winning three seats, while Ghulam Nabi Azad represented the NC-Congress alliance.
The tenure of these members ended in February 2021, leaving the seats vacant ever since.
Jammu and Kashmir have experienced political upheavals, including the dissolution of the PDP-BJP coalition government in June 2018 and the reorganization of the state into two union territories in October 2019.
Following years of direct governance by the Centre, assembly elections were finally held in September-October 2024, reinstating the Legislative Assembly. With the assembly restored, the stage is set for the Rajya Sabha elections, expected to be announced shortly, potentially by next month or January.
As political parties maneuver for influence, Congress state president Tariq Hameed Karra is keen to secure a Rajya Sabha seat for his party, signaling the intense competition that lies ahead.

Updated On 12/3/2024 1:47:54 AM