Srinagar, Oct 12: The Rajya Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir are turning into a high-stakes arithmetic battle, where every MLA’s vote on October 24 could tip the balance.

Unlike direct elections, these polls are entirely determined by legislative numbers, making coalition strategy and discipline crucial.

For the NC-Congress alliance, the so-called “risky fourth seat” has emerged as a flashpoint, testing the alliance’s cohesion, trust, and strategic calculations.

The Congress’ decision today not to contest a seat directly has dramatically altered the political arithmetic, leaving the fourth seat shrouded in uncertainty and setting the stage for an intense contest with the BJP.

While the NC commands 42 MLAs, with support from allied independents taking its effective strength to 47, it can comfortably secure three of the four seats.

However, the fourth seat, initially anticipated as a potential Congress allocation, is now shrouded in uncertainty.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has further intensified the contest by nominating its J&K unit president, Sat Sharma, for this seat, signalling a direct challenge.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued three separate notifications for the four Rajya Sabha vacancies.

The first two single-seat notifications, covering Mir Muhammad Fayaz and Shamsher Singh’s vacated positions, are virtually assured for NC, surpassing the 45-vote quota.

The third notification, covering the two vacancies left by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway, requires around 29 votes per seat, making strategic allocation critical.

Here, the BJP, with 28 MLAs, emerges as a formidable contender for the fourth seat.

Smaller parties, including the People’s Democratic Party with 3 MLAs, the People’s Conference with one MLA, Awami Ittehad Party with one MLA, and Aam Aadmi Party with one MLA, and certain independents, could play a decisive role, especially with Congress abstaining from contesting directly.

Congress, despite its limited strength of six MLAs, has not yet decided whether to vote for NC or abstain, reflecting ongoing internal deliberations and its cautious approach to retaining political relevance while avoiding a symbolic loss.

This indecision reduces NC’s surplus cushion, creating a narrow window where cross-voting or last-minute strategic alliances could shape the outcome of the “risky seat.”

For NC, the challenge is to maintain internal discipline and coordinate with allied independents to safeguard its three secured seats while evaluating whether to field a candidate for the fourth seat.

For the BJP, nominating Sat Sharma is a calculated move to exploit the arithmetic gap created by Congress’s abstention and stake a claim in what was traditionally NC-Congress territory.

The political landscape in J&K underwent a significant shift following the 2024 Legislative Assembly elections.

NC and Congress formed a pre-poll alliance to prevent a hung assembly and counter the BJP’s growing influence.

Together, they secured 49 seats in the 90-member assembly, NC winning 42, Congress six, and CPI (M) one.

Despite this electoral success, Congress chose not to join Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cabinet, citing dissatisfaction over the non-restoration of J&K’s statehood.

This highlighted tensions between the two parties and set the stage for friction in Rajya Sabha seat-sharing deliberations.

At the national level, NC remains part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc), a coalition of opposition parties led by Congress.

This dual alignment illustrates the complex interplay between regional and national politics, where regional alliances may diverge from national strategies.

The NC-Congress relationship in J&K reflects the delicate balance between regional political ambitions and national strategic calculations.

With Congress opting not to contest the Rajya Sabha polls and undecided on voting for NC, the fourth “risky seat” has emerged as a pivotal test of NC’s organisational strength, its ability to marshal support from independents, and the strategic calculations of the BJP.

The outcome will not only decide representation in the Upper House but also signal the future trajectory of coalition politics in J&K.

Srinagar, Oct 12: Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain and Palliative Care Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, organized a CME cum Workshop on “Airway Management in A&E Bay” and “Parallel Resuscitative Priorities of Trauma Care” here today.

Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah was Chief Guest on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Secretary Health emphasized that emergency and critical care medicine form the backbone of any modern healthcare system. Highlighting the vital role of skill-based training in airway management and trauma resuscitation, he noted that time-sensitive interventions, effective team coordination, and adherence to evidence-based protocols are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Abid Rasheed lauded the department’s dedication to medical excellence and urged doctors to serve humanity with a holistic and patient-centered approach.

Principal GMC Srinagar, Dr. Iffat Hassan described the CME as the need of the hour, stressing the importance of continuous medical education to strengthen clinical preparedness and institutional capacity in emergency and trauma care.

Prof. Dr. Hina Bashir Shah, Head of the Department in her address underscored the importance of structured training in airway management and resuscitation as essential competencies for all clinicians involved in acute and critical care.

Prof. Dr. Rukhsana Najeeb, Principal, GMC Anantnag, commended the efforts of anaesthesiologists, describing them as the backbone of every medical institution and pivotal members of multidisciplinary emergency response teams.

Organising secretary of the conference, Dr. Mohammad Ommid appreciated the unwavering dedication of the faculty, residents, and technical staff whose teamwork ensured the success of the event.

Co- Organising Secretary, Dr. Sifna Tahir shared that the workshop was designed to enhance clinical judgment, procedural expertise, and confidence in managing airway emergencies and trauma resuscitation in real-time scenarios.

Eminent speakers including Dr. Pankaj Kundra, HOD Anesthesia, JIPMER Pondicherry; Dr. Kajal Jain, HOD Anaesthesia, PGIMER Chandigarh; Prof. Dr. Hina Bashir Shah, HOD Anaesthesia, GMC Srinagar; Dr. Abraq Asma, Associate Professor, HIMSR Delhi; Dr. Nazia Nazir, HOD Anaesthesia, GIMS Noida; Prof. Jeetendra Kaur and Prof. Suman Arora from PGIMER Chandigarh, along with senior faculty members of the department attended the conference.

Lectures were also delivered by Dr. Irshad Misgar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, and Dr. Tariq Tantray, DM Cardiac Anaesthesia, on topics like oxygenation strategies, airway assessment in trauma, laryngotracheal trauma, inhalational burns, and troubleshooting difficult airway situations.

A hands-on workshop followed the lectures, coordinated by Dr. Yousha Muneeb Geelani and Dr. Qazi Afaan Zahoor. It featured seven skill stations focusing on practical training in Airway Sonography etc.

Kupwara, Oct 12: Continuing its drive against drug menace, Kupwara Police today apprehended a lady with contraband substance during a routine naka checking at Main Chowk Kralpora near the Tehsil Office.

A police spokesperson said that during the course of naka checking police personnel noticed a woman moving in a suspicious manner from Main Market Kralpora towards Sonthipora village. On being asked to stop the lady attempted to flee from the spot however she was tactfully apprehended by the alert naka party. With the assistance of a lady constable present at the naka she was identified as Meema Begum, wife of Nazir Ahmad Bhat, resident of Kralpora.

He said during her personal search conducted by the lady constable a charas-like substance was recovered from her possession.

Police have registered a case FIR No. 94/2025 under Section 8/20 NDPS Act at Police Station Kralpora and investigation has been set into motion, police spokesperson said.