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Srinagar: After the National Conference (NC) announced its candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats and offered the ‘risky’ fourth seat to the Congress, a deadlock has arisen over the proposal as sources say the Congress would prefer a ‘safe’ seat to contest the elections.
According to the Electoral College Vote Division, BJP with 28 votes has a clear lead over the NC alliance on the fourth Rajya Sabha seat as the alliance has only 24 votes for this seat.
For the three otherwise reserved seats, the NC on Friday announced its candidates Chaudhary Mohammed Ramzan, Sajjad Kitchlu and Sammy Oberoi.
Senior NC leader and advisor to party general secretary Ali Mohammed Sagar and Omar Abdullah Nasir Aslam Wani told the media on Friday, “Candidates have been decided for three Rajya Sabha seats. Chaudhary Mohammed Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchlu and Shammi Oberoi.”
Nasir Aslam Wani said, “These three will be our candidates for Rajya Sabha. The candidate for the fourth seat will be announced tomorrow or the day after.”
He also clarified on reports of NC President Farooq Abdullah contesting the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
According to Wani, Farooq Abdullah intends to stay in Jammu and Kashmir for the time being.
On reports of Farooq Abdullah contesting the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, he said, “Farooq sahib has decided that he is needed more in Jammu and Kashmir. We also feel that his suggestions, guidance and experience can be better utilized here. He also wants to stay in Jammu and Kashmir now.”
Following the impasse, sources suggest that the Congress may choose not to contest the fourth seat.
The Election Commission announced Rajya Sabha elections for Jammu and Kashmir on September 24 after a gap of more than four years as the Union Territory did not have a state assembly until February 2021.
Voting for four Rajya Sabha seats will be held on October 24.
Jammu and Kashmir has a 90-member state assembly, including 42 from NC, 29 from BJP, six from Congress, three from PDP, one from CPI-M, one from People’s Conference, one from Aam Aadmi Party, one from All Parties Conference and six independents, five of whom later joined the NC.
Congress, with six MLAs, is supporting the Omar Abdullah-led NC government from outside without joining it.
–IANS