Four National Conference candidates on Monday submitted their nomination papers for the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats, elections for which would be held on October 24.
The NC candidates Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan (former Cabinet Minister), Sajad Kichloo (former Minister of State), Shammi Oberoi (Treasurer, JKNC) and Imran Nabi Dar ( State Spokesperson) filed their nomination papers today.
The candidates were accompanied by senior party cabinet ministers, sitting and former legislators, DDC members, as well as key members of the media and social media wings of the party.
Prior to the filing, a felicitation ceremony was held at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, where the nominated candidates were warmly welcomed and congratulated by the party leadership.
Speaking at the event, the NC candidates reiterated the National Conference’s unwavering stand that there can be no trade-off between the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s rights and developmental goals.
They reaffirmed their commitment to work for inclusive development and to democratically and peacefully continue the struggle for the restoration of the constitutional rights of the people of J&K.
They said the National Conference remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard the democratic and constitutional aspirations of the people while pushing forward an agenda of equitable development.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said BJP cannot win even a single Rajya Sabha seat from Jammu and Kashmir without indulging in “horse trading.”
“BJP cannot win three Rajya Sabha seats without doing horse trading. In fact, they cannot even win one seat without it. They need 30 votes to win the fourth seat but have only 28. Not a single MLA apart from those 28 has supported them in the past year,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.
He alleged that if the BJP manages to secure additional votes, it would be through “money power, muscle power, and the power of the agencies.”
“Let’s see if they try to win by threatening or buying votes — that will prove what people are saying in Bihar is right. Otherwise, as the numbers stand today, BJP is not in a position to win even one seat,” he said.
The CM said the Rajya Sabha election will be a “test of loyalty,” revealing who truly stands with or against the BJP. “Anyone who abstains or votes for the BJP is a friend of the BJP,” he remarked.
Omar that party president Farooq Abdullah himself chose not to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Jammu and Kashmir, dismissing speculation that he was denied a mandate.
“Who says Farooq Saab was not given a mandate? Does anyone have the courage to say that Farooq Saab wanted to fight the election but was not getting a mandate from the party? He himself decided to step back,” he said.