Jammu, Oct 10: Trepidation is there among the ‘hopefuls’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, anticipating the final call of their respective central leaderships vis-à-vis ‘ticket to Rajya Sabha (biennial election)’ from Jammu and Kashmir.
The last date for filing nomination for the biennial elections to four vacant RS seats from J&K is October 13, 2025.
Adding to the unease of those who are already waiting for the ‘announcement of the high command’ with bated breath, is the lead, seized by the key-player National Conference by declaring its three names against four seats on Friday evening.
However, both the national parties have yet to end the prolonged suspense.
For the BJP, which is in direct contest against the NC, the latter’s declaration (of its three candidates) is not perturbing. But for the alliance partner Congress, it has raised the stakes, for sure.
NC has indicated that it has left the fourth seat for the Congress, yet has left ample scope for confusion about the ‘slot’ to be allotted to the alliance partner. It will finally decide whether it will be smooth sailing to RS for Congress or not. NC announced the names of Chowdhary Ramzan, Sajjad Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi as its three candidates.
BJP MAY TAKE ITS FINAL CALL ANY MOMENT
While NC has taken a call, the BJP is also not far behind.
The BJP Parliamentary Board is likely to announce the name of the party’s final candidate, out of the panel of four, on Sunday.
The panel of four probables comprises former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh; former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina; J&K BJP president Sat Sharma, and the J&K BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi.
Sources assert that one of these four candidates’ names will be cleared against the third notification for the election (to fill the vacancies caused due to the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway).
“For the number one and two slots (against notification one and two), the party has already finalised the names of Rakesh Mahajan and a senior BJP leader from Kashmir,” they point out.
With regard to Nagrota and Budgam seats, the sources asserted, “The names of candidates may be decided by the BJP Parliamentary Board in Sunday’s meeting only or may be in a separate meeting later.”
CONGRESS’ DILEMMAS GALORE
On the other hand, the long wait for Congress’ hopefuls’ is most likely to end tomorrow.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra, while speaking to Greater Kashmir regarding the updated status, said, “The update is that the NC has announced its three candidates and they have left one (seat) for the Congress. Tonight, there will be consultations between the NC and the Congress there in Delhi about the slot.”
In response to a query about ‘safer slot’, Karra stated, “It all depends upon if the BJP is filing on one, two or all (slots). Thus, the discussion will be on the slot allotted to the Congress. The deliberations on that account will be held tonight.”
Regarding the names of candidates recommended by the J&K unit to the central high command, the JKPCC president asserted, “See, as far as Rajya Sabha is concerned, this is the prerogative of the central leadership. It is not the election for MLCs or MLAs that the panel is to be sent (by the J&K unit). It happens only when they (central leadership) ask for it.”
Did they (Congress high command) not ask for it?
Continuing to maintain secrecy, Karra’s response to this query was, “That’s a separate thing. We had consultations. But there is no formal thing like that (a panel of candidates). They have their own recommendations, at the central level also.”
Regarding Budgam and Nagrota assembly by-polls, the JKPCC president continued to maintain that the deliberations were “yet to be initiated.” “We have yet to discuss that, even at the party level.”
While the party leadership is maintaining top-notch secrecy vis-à-vis names of candidates, the Congress rank and file (including those lobbying hard for the ticket) are using all possible fora, including media, to convey to the high command that the “representation” should go to Jammu.
Their two-pronged expectation from the central leadership is – Jammu has always been the bastion of the Congress.
“Presently, Jammu is totally unrepresented in every political sphere in the party. This will adversely impact the party’s prospects. A candidate from Jammu should be given prominence in deciding about the nomination. Second and the most crucial aspect is that those candidates or seekers, who were already given chances to contest in the recent elections yet they could not win, should not be considered this time,” is their line of argument, while referring to the hopefuls, including the former ministers, either defeated in the recent contests or already elected yet looking for ‘upgradation’.
