Elections for the high-stakes four Rajya Sabha seats got underway in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, with two rival camps—the ruling NC–Congress combine and the opposition BJP—vying for victory.
The ruling alliance has the support of 53 MLAs. That includes 42 from NC, Congress 6, five Independents, and PDP 3. The BJP, along with the support of 28 of its MLAs, is banking on the organisational and managerial skills of the party and possible cross-voting.
Given the numbers game in the 88-member assembly, the NC is expected to win three seats. However, the party is facing tough competition for the fourth seat.
The Election Commission of India has issued three notifications for the four seats—one notification each for the election involving a single seat and a separate notification for the election for two seats.
For the single election, the winning candidate will need 45 votes, and 29 votes in an election involving two seats.
The NC has fielded four candidates—Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Shammi Oberoi, and Imran Nabi Dar.
The BJP has given a mandate to Sat Sharma, Ali Muhammad Mir, and Rakesh Mahajan.
The NC has chances of winning three seats comfortably in view of the support received from the PDP, which has three MLAs. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti decided to support the NC candidates after speaking to NC president Farooq Abdullah.
The NC, in return, has agreed to support the PDP-sponsored bill in the ongoing session of the assembly.
The People’s Conference (PC), with one seat, is likely to abstain, while the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), Aam Aadmi Party, and an Independent have one seat each.
The election is important for both the ruling alliance and the BJP. A win for the NC will boost the party’s image and strengthen its influence in Jammu and Kashmir.
For the BJP, even one seat will be regarded as an achievement for the saffron party.
The Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2021. Elections could not be held to fill new members in view of the absence of an assembly, as Jammu and Kashmir was under Central rule.
An election to elect an assembly was held last year in October, bringing to power the NC–Congress alliance that won a majority, while the BJP emerged as a strong opposition.
