Srinagar, Oct 24 : Voting for the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir began on Friday morning, with the National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) locked in a close contest for the crucial fourth seat.
MLAs began arriving early at the Assembly complex in Srinagar to cast their votes at the designated polling booths. The NC is widely expected to secure three of the four seats comfortably, but the final outcome hinges on the fourth seat, where the numbers remain finely balanced between the two parties.
According to the current tally, NC candidates are backed by 57 MLAs, including support from Congress, PDP, CPI(M), and several independents. The BJP holds 28 votes. However, uncertainty surrounds the choices of two MLAs — Mehraj Malik, who voted from Kathua jail under detention, and Sheikh Khursheed.
Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and Sajjad Kichloo of NC are expected to win the first two seats, while the third and fourth seats are witnessing a triangular fight among Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, Imran Dar, and BJP’s Sat Sharma. Political observers say the outcome could depend on possible cross-voting within the ruling alliance.(KNS)
