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Srinagar, October 24 (IANS) Voting for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir began at the Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar on Friday and ruling National Conference (NC) MLAs were the first to cast their votes.
In an important related development, Jammu and Kashmir Congress MLAs have decided to support (NC) candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) held a meeting in Srinagar late Thursday evening, after which this decision was taken.
By announcing its decision to support the NC, the Congress has confirmed its political alliance with the ruling party. Senior Congress leader and JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra announced that all six Congress MLAs will cast their votes in favor of NC candidates.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Karra stressed that defeating the BJP is the top priority for the Congress-NC alliance. “Our alliance with the National Conference is strong and principled. Our aim is to ensure that the BJP faces defeat in these elections,” he said.
The Rajya Sabha elections are expected to test the strength of the alliance and highlight any rifts within the parties. As both camps gear up for the decisive day, all eyes are now on the numbers – and also on whether unity among the opposition parties can actually challenge the BJP’s influence in the region.
NC has fielded four candidates Mohammad Ramzan Choudhary, Sajjad Kitchlu, Shami Oberoi and Imran Nabi Dar for the four Rajya Sabha seats.
BJP has fielded three candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats. On the fourth seat, BJP has fielded its UT unit president Sat Sharma.
The NC has an edge over its rivals on three Rajya Sabha seats, while on the fourth seat the BJP has an edge over the NC with 28 votes against the NC alliance’s 24 votes. PDP has announced to support NC on the third seat.
All elected MLAs of the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly are eligible to vote in the Rajya Sabha elections. These elections are being held after almost 10 years and could not be held after February 2021 due to the absence of an active assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
–IANS
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