Jammu & Kashmir: In a major political development ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Friday unveiled its candidates — Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi, and Sajad Kichloo — during a press conference held at the party’s Nawa-e-Subh headquarters in Srinagar.
The announcement was made by NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, who said the nominations were finalised after detailed internal consultations under the guidance of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah.
“These names reflect our party’s vision for balanced, inclusive, and regionally diverse representation in Parliament. We are confident that these leaders will raise Jammu and Kashmir’s voice strongly at the national level,” Sagar said.
Notably, the National Conference has decided to keep one of the four Rajya Sabha seats open, signalling ongoing seat-sharing negotiations with the Congress party. “We have kept one seat open, and talks are ongoing with the Congress,” Sagar confirmed, without revealing whether it would be a safe or competitive seat.
Political observers note that the NC-Congress alliance currently holds around 24 votes, while the BJP commands 28, making the contest for the fourth seat highly strategic.
The move comes as political activity intensifies in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls. By fielding experienced leaders from both Jammu and the Valley, the NC aims to reinforce its national presence and ensure that Jammu and Kashmir’s concerns are effectively voiced in the Upper House of Parliament.
