In a significant political development in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC), led by Omar Abdullah, has emerged victorious in three of the four Rajya Sabha seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the remaining seat.
Senior JKNC leader Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan has been elected to the Rajya Sabha, winning by a margin of 58 votes. His party colleagues Sajad Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi also clinched victory.
The BJP’s win came from Sat Paul Sharma, the party’s Jammu and Kashmir President, who garnered 32 votes, defeating NC candidate Imran Nissar. This outcome fills the four Rajya Sabha seats in the region that had been vacant since February 2021.
Looking ahead, by-elections for the Nagrota and Budgam assembly constituencies are scheduled for November 11. These elections are necessitated by the passing of MLA Devender Singh Rana and the resignation of Omar Abdullah, respectively.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had expressed optimism about securing support from the Congress for a clean sweep of all four Rajya Sabha seats. He noted the unique nature of these elections, being held after a decade in the region, and highlighted the NC’s strategic planning. Abdullah also commented on the Congress party’s independent meetings, stating that their decision not to support the BJP was clear, though their high command’s signals would be awaited.