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Jammu, Oct 20 (IANS) Hurt by its inability to convince the National Conference (NC) to give it a ‘reserved’ Rajya Sabha seat, the Congress has rejected the NC’s offer to field its candidate against the BJP in the Nagrota by-election.
Differences between the NC and the Congress escalated when the NC nominated its candidates for three ‘safe’ Rajya Sabha seats and offered the fourth seat to the Congress to contest.
While the NC has a clear lead on three seats, the BJP has fielded its Jammu and Kashmir president Sat Sharma for the fourth Rajya Sabha seat. On the fourth seat, BJP has an edge over the NC alliance with 28 votes against the alliance’s 24 votes.
After Congress refused to field its candidate for the fourth seat, NC has finally fielded its candidates for all four Rajya Sabha seats.
Following this development, Congress has refused to field its candidate for Nagrota by-election and has asked NC to field its candidate on this seat also.
NC has offered Nagrota seat to Congress, while BJP has fielded Devyani Rana, daughter of late Devender Singh Rana, from Nagrota.
His father had won this seat in the 2024 assembly elections.
The NC on Sunday announced fielding former minister Agha Syed Mahmood for the Budgam by-election. On this seat, BJP has fielded Agha Syed Mohsin and PDP has fielded Agha Syed Muntajir.
Nagrota Assembly seat fell vacant due to the death of sitting MLA Devender Singh Rana on October 31, 2024.
The Budgam seat had fallen vacant after NC Vice President and current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned from the seat after winning the 2024 elections from both Budgam and Ganderbal.
Omar chose to represent Ganderbal in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Voting is to be held in Nagrota and Budgam on November 11.
In the 2024 assembly elections, NC won 42, BJP 29, Congress 6, PDP 3, CPI M 1, Aam Aadmi Party 1, People’s Conference 1, Awami Ittehad Party 1 seat, while 6 independent candidates also won in those elections.
Congress later decided to support the Omar Abdullah-led NC government from outside without joining it.
–IANS
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