Jammu, Oct 11: Hard negotiations between the alliance partners National Conference (NC) and the Congress, continued on Saturday to arrive at a consensus on the “slot allotted” to the latter in the seat-arrangement for the biennial election to four vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir.
“The status quo persists as the process is still underway between the leadership of the alliance partners. Consultations are on with our high command. So far, the picture is not clear. Final status will emerge only after the conclusion of the talks process,” Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, while responding to Greater Kashmir queries about any headway in the ongoing negotiations between the NC and the Congress.
Notwithstanding the claims of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to “contest on all four seats with an intent to have a serious fight on three seats to score a win”, the party is not fully safe on even one seat out of four.
It stands a chance of winning one seat only against the third notification issued for the election to fill the vacancies caused due to the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway.
In fact, this critical aspect is adding zing to the entire contest. This is also Congress’ dilemma, and to sort it out, it is negotiating with the National Conference to find out which seat (out of slots 3 and 4) will be declared safer by the coalition. Congress is keen to contest only a safer slot.
The last date for filing nominations for the biennial elections to four vacant RS seats from Jammu and Kashmir is October 13, 2025.
Earlier on October 10, NC announced the names of Chowdhary Ramzan, Sajjad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi as its three candidates for Rajya Sabha seats. It left the fourth seat for the Congress, yet left ample scope for confusion about the ‘slot’ to be allotted to the alliance partner.
It is likely that the partners will come out clear on all aspects on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentary Board is also likely to announce the names of its candidates for the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
PTI ADD TO THE STORY
Top leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Congress will meet here on Sunday to discuss party strategy for the forthcoming polls to the four Rajya Sabha seats and by-polls to the two assembly seats.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra will chair the meeting at the party headquarters in Srinagar. Key party leaders from both the Kashmir and Jammu regions will attend, party sources said.
They said the Congress leaders will finalise their strategy for the forthcoming polls to the four Rajya Sabha seats.
Congress had sought the support of the ruling National Conference in the election to one of the four seats.
The National Conference on Friday named candidates for only three Rajya Sabha seats, saying that it left one seat open as talks with Congress were going on.
The Rajya Sabha polls are scheduled to be held on October 24.
Congress sources said the party meeting will also deliberate on its stand on bypolls to the Budgam and Nagrota assembly segments, where voting will be held in November.
