Did BJP Candidates Submit Nominations for Rajya Sabha Seats in J&K?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The BJP has filed nominations for three Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The elections are scheduled for October 24.
- The National Conference is expected to secure three seats.
- Congress has opted out of the elections after negotiations with NC fell through.
- The BJP's strategy indicates a competitive approach in the region.
Srinagar, Oct 13 (NationPress) Three BJP candidates representing Jammu and Kashmir officially lodged their nomination documents on Monday in Srinagar for the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections set to occur on October 24.
The trio was joined by prominent party figure and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, current Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Ali Khatana, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma, along with other party MLAs.
BJP J&K President Sat Pal Sharma, together with candidates Dr Ali Muhammad Mir and Rakesh Mahajan, submitted their papers for the elections.
They arrived at the Assembly Secretariat complex and handed their nomination papers to the Returning Officer Manoj Pandita, Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, who oversees the election.
The BJP is in a solid position for the seat contested by Sat Pal Sharma, while Dr Ali Muhammad Mir and Rakesh Mahajan have been nominated for a symbolic contest against likely National Conference (NC) winners Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan and Sajad Kichloo.
The ruling coalition, led by the NC, is well-placed to claim three seats.
Additionally, the NC had suggested a ‘risky’ fourth seat to the Congress, which opted out of the contest.
The third NC candidate is the party treasurer, Shami Oberoi. The Congress party engaged in extensive discussions among its six MLAs and other leaders, chaired by J&K Pradesh Congress committee president Tariq Hameed Karra, on Sunday.
Ultimately, the Congress decided against participating in the Rajya Sabha elections after the NC did not comply with their request for a safe seat.
The NC has nominated its candidates for three secure Rajya Sabha seats, while the BJP, with 28 votes compared to the NC-Congress alliance's 24 votes, is well-positioned to win the fourth seat.
On Friday, the ruling National Conference (NC) unveiled its candidates for three seats in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and confirmed that discussions with Congress are ongoing regarding the fourth seat. Senior NC leaders Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi, and Sajad Kichloo have been selected to compete in the Rajya Sabha elections.