Srinagar, Oct 3 : With less than three weeks to go for elections to the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, political parties have begun to outline early strategies though the National Conference has dismissed reports of final names, the Congress is preparing talks through its central observer, and the BJP is convening a key organisational meet this weekend.
National Conference provincial president Showkat Mir told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that there has been no internal deliberation yet on possible candidates, countering speculation that names such as Farooq Abdullah, Choudhary Ramzan and Shami Oberoi are under consideration.
“These are only assumptions and drawing-room discussions. The party has not even sat to decide the nominations. There is sufficient time and no meeting or decision has taken place yet,” Mir said.
He added that rumours about Congress leader Digvijay Singh arriving in Jammu and Kashmir to negotiate one seat for the INDIA alliance are also premature. “Even that is part of the speculation mill,” he said.
However, J&K PCC Chief Tariq Hameed Karra told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that Digvijay Singh, who was appointed AICC observer for J&K elections nearly three months ago is expected to hold consultations with NC leadership and the Congress’ J&K unit over the seat-sharing formula.
Discussions are likely to involve the Pradesh Congress Committee president and will focus on the lone seat the alliance could target jointly if numbers align, he said.
While the opposition bloc appears to be in the preliminary stage of drawing contours, the BJP has moved into organisational mode.
In Jammu, will hold a core group meeting on Saturday at 10 am at its headquarters to chalk out its approach to the polls. The meeting will be chaired by BJP national general secretary and J&K in-charge Tarun Chugh.
Party insiders said the meeting will examine both arithmetic and outreach options in the 90-member Legislative Assembly, where the BJP remains the single-largest party but short of the numbers required to unilaterally secure all four seats.
The saffron party is expected to weigh whether to field candidates on all seats or reserve slots for friendly independents or smaller allies.
The Election Commission of India on September 25 announced that polling for the four Rajya Sabha seats which have remained vacant since 2021 will be held on October 24. The seats lapsed after the reorganisation of the erstwhile state and the absence of an elected Assembly delayed fresh nominations.(KNS)
