Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 26: Despite having only six MLAs, the Congress has decided to stake claim to one of the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, banking on its alliance with the National Conference (NC) and support from other opposition parties. Senior Congress leaders said the party expects backing from the three MLAs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one MLA of the CPI(M), making its candidate a “consensus choice” for the non-BJP bloc.
“Going by the numbers, the NC and BJP will secure two and one seat each without difficulty. The real contest is for the fourth seat, and we believe PDP will never support an NC candidate. That’s why Congress is the natural consensus option,” a Congress leader told The Early Times, adding that Despite having only six MLAs, the Congress has decided to stake claim to one of the four Rajya Sabha seats in J&K.
The party expects backing from the three MLAs of PDP, and one MLA of the CPI(M), making its candidate a “consensus choice” for the non-BJP bloc.
Going by the numbers, the NC and BJP will secure two and one seat each without difficulty.
The real contest is for the fourth seat, and many believe Congress is the natural consensus option.
The four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K have remained vacant since February 2021, when the terms of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shamsher Singh Manhas, Nazir Ahmad Laway, and Fayaz Ahmad Mir expired.
Following the 2024 Assembly elections, the NC emerged as the single-largest party with 42 seats, followed by the BJP with 29, Congress with six, PDP with three, and one seat each for the People’s Conference, CPI(M), and Aam Aadmi Party. Seven independents also entered the House. With this composition, the NC-Congress alliance, supported by smaller parties and independents, holds the numbers to secure at least two seats, while the BJP is in a comfortable position to win one and may attempt to wrest a second with surplus votes. |
