The political atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir is heating up as nine candidates, representing both the ruling National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have filed their nominations for the four Rajya Sabha seats scheduled for voting later this month. The nomination process was overseen by Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer, Manoj Pandita.
Nine Candidates File Nominations for Four Rajya Sabha Seats
The nomination list includes prominent figures such as NC’s Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo, Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, and Imran Dar, while the BJP is fielding Ali Muhammad Mir, Rakesh Mahajan, and Sat Pal Sharma. Two independent candidates, Prabhakar Dada and Kante Sayanna, also joined the race, making the contest a multi-cornered political event.
Under the first notification, elections will be held for one seat, with Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan (NC) and Ali Muhammad Mir (BJP) in the fray. Given the NC-led alliance’s 53 MLAs, Ramzan is expected to secure a comfortable victory, even without Congress support. The BJP, on the other hand, commands 28 MLAs, giving it a strong base but not enough to secure a win independently.
NC and BJP Lock Horns in Second and Third Notifications
In the second notification, NC’s Sajad Kichloo and BJP’s Rakesh Mahajan have filed nominations for another seat. Political observers predict Kichloo’s win, as the voting pattern mirrors that of the first seat.
The third notification involves two seats and has attracted a competitive lineup — NC’s Gurwinder Singh Oberoi and Imran Dar, BJP’s Sat Pal Sharma, and independent Kante Sayanna. The top two vote-getters will claim the two available seats. The NC-led alliance aims to secure both, allocating 29 votes to Oberoi and 24 votes to Imran Dar, while BJP’s 28 votes are expected to consolidate behind Sat Pal Sharma.
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BJP Candidates Express Confidence in Their Prospects
After filing his nomination, BJP candidate Rakesh Mahajan expressed gratitude to his party leadership, stating,
“I am thankful to the national leadership for this honor. We will win all three seats. BJP values every worker, and everyone gets their rightful opportunity.”
BJP state president and Rajya Sabha candidate Sat Sharma echoed the sentiment, saying,
“We will fight with full strength and make history by winning more than one seat.”
Similarly, Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir thanked the party for its trust, stating that it was a privilege to represent the aspirations of the people of Kashmir under Prime Minister Modi’s vision.
NC Confident of a Clean Sweep
NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq confirmed the completion of the nomination process and expressed optimism about winning all four seats. However, he expressed disappointment over Congress’s refusal to align with their alliance, urging “secular forces” to support NC candidates.
Senior NC leader Chowdhary Muhammad Ramzan reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the region’s developmental and political challenges, promising that his party would “live up to the people’s expectations.”
Political War of Words Heats Up
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched a strong attack on the BJP, accusing it of depending on “horse trading” and “muscle power” to gain Rajya Sabha seats.
“BJP cannot win even a single Rajya Sabha seat without horse trading. They need 30 votes for the fourth seat but have only 28,” Abdullah asserted.
However, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh countered by expressing faith in the BJP’s chances under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, emphasizing how the party has transformed Jammu and Kashmir’s political and developmental landscape over the past decade.
As the Rajya Sabha elections approach, the contest between NC and BJP has intensified, marking one of the most closely watched political events in recent times. While NC holds the numerical edge, BJP’s confidence and strategic positioning suggest that the results could reshape political equations in Jammu and Kashmir once again.
