The political arena in Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up for a fierce contest over four Rajya Sabha seats, as nine candidates filed their nominations today. The candidates include representatives from the ruling National Conference (NC), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a significant moment in the state’s political landscape.
The nominations occurred before the Returning Officer, Manoj Pandita, Secretary of the Assembly, at the Assembly complex in Jammu. As the elections approach, the stakes have never been higher, given the significance of these seats in the parliamentary framework.
Under the initial notification, candidates Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan of the NC, Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir of the BJP, and independent candidate Prabhakar Dada submitted their papers. Political analysts project Ramzan, backed by the NC-led coalition of 53 MLAs, is likely to secure this seat, even without Congress support.
The BJP, with its alliance of 28 MLAs, is equally poised to compete vigorously, particularly in this crucial election.
In the subsequent phase of nominations, Sajad Kichloo from the NC and Rakesh Mahajan from the BJP emerged as contenders for another seat. Observers predict a similar voting pattern would favor Kichloo for this position as well.
The third notification pertains to two seats, with Gurwinder Singh Oberoi (alias Shammi Oberoi) and Imran Dar representing the NC, while Sat Pal Sharma from the BJP is also a contestant alongside independent candidate Kante Sayanna. Political experts note that the candidates with the highest votes in this contest will be declared winners. The NC coalition is set to secure 29 votes for Oberoi, while 24 are expected to go to Imran Dar. All 28 BJP legislators are anticipated to support Sharma, further intensifying competition.
Following his nomination, BJP candidate Rakesh Mahajan expressed gratitude to the party leadership and voiced optimism for victory. “I am thankful to the national leadership for this honor. I am sure we will win all three seats. The BJP gives equal opportunity to every worker, and all get their due right,” he stated.
BJP state president Sat Sharma, also in the running for one of the seats, criticized the NC while affirming the BJP’s commitment to success. “We will fight with all our strength and script history. We aim to win more than one seat this time,” he said, underscoring the BJP’s strategic intent.
Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir, another notable BJP nominee, conveyed his appreciation for the trust vested in him. “Entire Kashmir is happy. I thank the central leadership for considering me competent for this responsibility,” he remarked, emphasizing a sense of hopeful solidarity among party supporters.
NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq confirmed the successful completion of the nomination process while rallying support for NC candidates. “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 asserted.
Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, an influential NC leader in the mix, pledged to voice crucial developmental and political concerns in Parliament. “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 stated, showcasing the proactive approach of the NC.
As the state gears up for these high-stakes elections, both the BJP and NC strategies will be put to the test, underlining the significance of these seats in shaping Jammu and Kashmir’s political future. The elections for these four Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled for later this month, and the results will have lasting implications.
