The political stage is set for an intense contest over the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, as nine candidates — including four from the ruling National Conference (NC) and three from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — filed their nomination papers before the Returning Officer, Manoj Pandita, Secretary of the Assembly, today.
The nominations for these crucial seats signal the onset of a fierce electoral battle in the region. The elections for these four Rajya Sabha seats, set to take place later this month, have stirred significant political interest, as parties jostle to secure representation in the upper house of Parliament.
In the first notification, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan of the NC and Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir of the BJP filed their nominations, alongside independent candidate Prabhakar Dada. Given the support of the NC-led alliance, which comprises 53 MLAs, Ramzan is expected to win the seat comfortably, even without Congress support. The BJP, holding the allegiance of its 28 MLAs, aims to secure a foothold in this competitive environment.
Under the second notification, NC’s Sajad Kichloo and BJP’s Rakesh Mahajan have entered the race for another single seat. With a voting pattern similar to the first notification, Kichloo appears to be on a positive trajectory towards victory.
For the third notification concerning two seats, NC candidates Gurwinder Singh Oberoi (alias Shammi Oberoi) and Imran Dar have thrown their hats into the ring, alongside Sat Pal Sharma of the BJP and independent candidate Kante Sayanna. Political observers anticipate that the candidates securing the highest number of votes will clinch these seats. Analysts predict the NC will garner 29 votes for Oberoi and allocate 24 for Dar, while Sharma is likely to receive full backing from the BJP legislators.
Rakesh Mahajan expressed gratitude to the BJP leadership shortly after filing his nomination. The BJP candidate shared his confidence about the outcome, stating, “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.”
Party president Sat Sharma, a candidate himself, asserted the BJP’s resolve, taking aim at the ruling NC. He emphasized, “We will fight with all our strength and script history. We aim to win more than one seat this time.”
Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir, another BJP nominee, conveyed his sense of honor regarding the nomination. “The entire Kashmir is happy. I thank the central leadership for considering me competent for this responsibility,” he stated, reflecting the aspirations of voters in the region.
NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq reassured reporters that the nomination process concluded successfully, expressing confidence in the alliance’s chances. He remarked, “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.”
Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan also weighed in, promising to represent the aspirations of J&K citizens in Parliament. His commitment rings promising, as he stated, “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.”
As the elections for the four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir approach, the political landscape appears charged with excitement and anticipation. With significant stakes for both the ruling and opposition parties, these elections will be keenly watched by observers and constituents alike.
