Congress opts out of Rajya Sabha elections in J&K, Calls offered seat by NC ‘Risky’

Congress Party on Sunday decided not to contest any of the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, turning down the lone seat offered by its ally National Conference (NC). The party described the seat as a `risky’ one and opted to stay out of the race.

 

 

While speaking to reporters on Sunday, Tariq Hameed Karra, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, said the party decided not to field a candidate for the seat offered by the NC because it was not a safe or winnable seat.

 

 

Karra said the party had asked for one of the first two seats but was instead offered the fourth seat, which he called a risky and difficult one to win.

 

 

Meanwhile, the NC has announced the names of its three candidates - Sajjad Kitchloo, Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan, and Shammi Oberoi , for the upcoming elections scheduled on October 24. The party said the fourth seat had been kept for Congress, but the latter declined the offer.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also declared its candidates. The party has fielded Sat Pal Sharma, Rakesh Mahajan, and Dr Ali Mohammad Mir for the elections.

 

 

 

The four Rajya Sabha seats have been lying vacant since February 2021, after the terms of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Nazir Ahmad Laway, Mir Mohammad Fayaz, and Shamsher Singh Manhas expired.

 

 

According to the Election Commission, the last date for filing nominations is October 13. Voting will take place on October 24, and results will be announced the same day.