Voting is being held on Friday (October 24) for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference (NC) is hopeful of a clean sweep with the support of 57 members including Congress, PDP, CPI and independents. At the same time, BJP with 28 members is hoping to win the fourth seat.

Let us tell you that the votes of Sheikh Khurshid of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIP) and jailed MLA Mehraj Malik of Aam Aadmi Party will decide the fourth seat, because both National Conference and BJP have 28-28 members.

What did MLA Sheikh Khurshid say
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surendra Chaudhary claims that Sajjad Lone will also vote for the National Conference candidate. He has claimed that Sajjad has changed his decision of not voting. Meanwhile, Awami Ittehad Party MLA Sheikh Khurshid has said that he will vote for NC. He says that voting is a compulsion to keep BJP away. This has made BJP’s victory on seat 4 more difficult.

Alliance of National Conference and Congress
The alliance of National Conference and Congress has majority in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, hence two seats are being considered safe for the alliance. A third notification was issued for the remaining two seats. According to the mathematics of the Assembly, it is certain that one of the two members from NC will be elected, but there is competition between BJP and NC for the other one.

Let us tell you that the Election Commission had issued 3 separate notifications for the selection of these four members. This means that each MLA will vote three times to elect Rajya Sabha member. One member will be elected as per the first notification. Another member will be elected under the second notification. There are 2 seats vacant in the 90-seat assembly of Jammu and Kashmir and the process of by-election is going on here. The NC-Congress alliance, which is in power in the state, has the support of 53 MLAs in the House. Of these, there are 41 MLAs from NC, 6 from Congress and one from CPI(M).

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Today i.e. before the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on 24th October, the stir in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir has intensified. Congress has announced support to the candidates of National Conference (NC). With this decision, NC has got an initial lead and at the same time the equation is creating new difficulties for BJP.

Awami Ittehad Party also announced support

The path seems to be getting easier for the National Conference in the Rajya Sabha elections. After Congress, now Awami Ittehad Party has also announced its support to NC. Awami Ittehad Party MLA Sheikh Khurshid said that “this vote is a compulsion to keep BJP away”. After his statement, BJP’s chances of winning the fourth seat seem to be almost over.

Big change in attitude of Sajjad Loan

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Surendra Chaudhary has claimed that Sajjad Lone will also vote for the NC candidate. He said that the decision Sajjad had taken earlier to abstain from voting has now been changed. This change further strengthens the atmosphere in favor of the National Conference, because earlier it was believed that Lone’s neutrality could give indirect benefit to BJP.

National Conference has clear lead in statistics

As per the current equation, the ruling National Conference alliance now has the support of a total of 59 MLAs. On the other hand, BJP has only 28 MLAs. National Conference already had the support of 6 Congress, 3 PDP, 1 CPM and 6 independent MLAs. Now with the support of Sheikh Khurshid and Sajjad Lone of Awami Ittehad Party, this number has become decisive. Due to this, the victory of National Conference on Rajya Sabha seats is considered almost certain.

The politics of Jammu and Kashmir has now reached a new turning point. In which the deadlock between the ruling coalition may either increase or all apprehensions may come to an end completely. That is why Congress Committee President Tariq Hamid Karra has called a meeting of Congress MLAs on Wednesday before the joint meeting of MLAs. In the meeting, along with discussing relations with the National Conference, discussions are also expected on the functioning of the government.

The meeting of India Alliance is to be held at Hotel Radisson in Srinagar regarding the Rajya Sabha elections and Assembly by-elections to be held on October 24. Which will be presided over by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Signs of resolution of alliance issues

A senior leader of the National Conference, on the condition of anonymity, said that the meeting is taking place, but there is little possibility of giving a statement on any controversial issue before or after the start of the session. The party hopes that all the issues will be resolved before the session and voting.

Controversy has increased regarding Rajya Sabha seat

Tension is at its peak between Congress and National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir regarding seat sharing for four Rajya Sabha seats and assembly by-elections. Congress has refused to contest the Rajya Sabha elections, accusing NC of not giving ‘safe seat’. State Congress President Karra had said after the core committee meeting on October 12 that the Congress high command had asked for one of the two separate notification seats, but the conference offered a general notification seat, which is not safe. Therefore we will not contest elections. NC has announced its candidates for three seats, while the alliance candidate on the fourth seat needs all the anti-BJP votes to win.

Now due to Congress’s refusal, BJP can easily get two Rajya Sabha seats, due to which the conference is nervous. National Conference is trying to bring Congress back in a last ditch effort to save Rajya Sabha seats.

Rumors of alliance breaking dismissed

Whereas, Congress has shocked the National Conference by refusing to contest elections from Nagrota Assembly seat also. Rejecting rumors of alliance break, the Congress leadership has promised that six party MLAs will vote in favor of National Conference candidates. With the support of MLAs from PDP, People’s Conference, Awami Ittehad Party and AAP, the alliance is also at stake on the fourth seat.

There was a dispute between the National Conference and Congress regarding the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Actually, Congress has refused to contest the Rajya Sabha elections. The party says that we had demanded a reserved seat from NC, which we did not get. Now State President Tariq Hameed Karra said that our trust has been broken.

State Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday (October 13) said the National Conference (NC)’s “backdown” from its commitment to the Congress leadership regarding the Rajya Sabha elections shows that it is reconsidering its ties with the Indian block. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Monday, Karra said that the NC leadership had assured Congress of allotting a reserved seat.

He said, “We were told that we would be allotted a safe seat, first or second. When the NC was adamant on giving us the fourth seat, which was considered unsafe, we called a core committee meeting. It was unanimously decided that we should not contest an election in which there is a possibility of our defeat. The committee also expressed displeasure over the backtracking on the promises made at the level of Sonia ji and Kharge ji.”

‘Wrote a letter to Omar Abdullah’

He further said that the NC leadership told that there will be no compromise on anything beyond the fourth seat. Karra further said, “When Mir Sahab and I sent a joint letter to Omar Sahab, he instructed us to talk to Farooq Sahab. Farooq Sahab’s answer was clear in itself. He told us that he was ready to discuss only the fourth seat.”

‘Our trust has been broken’

When asked whether the NC had betrayed the Congress, Tariq Karra replied, “I wouldn’t use the word betrayal. But our trust has been broken.” He further said that the NC’s actions indicate that it is reconsidering its relations with the India block.

Hameed Karra also said, “It is not that the agreement with NC in Jammu and Kashmir remains incomplete. But this also indicates that NC is considering whether it should remain in the India block.”

‘Will not give statement on BJP’s irresponsible remarks’

On the statement of opposition leader Sunil Sharma calling Congress a puppet of National Conference, he said that I will not react to the irresponsible statements of BJP.

BJP has announced its candidates for the elections to be held for 3 Rajya Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir. The name of a Muslim leader Ghulam Mohammad Mir is included in the list of candidates released by BJP. Apart from this, BJP has also made Rakesh Mahajan and Satpal Sharma its candidates. The inclusion of the name of a Muslim candidate Ghulam Mohammad Mir in this list is especially in the news.

Political analysts believe that this step of BJP is part of its strategy to reach out to the Muslim community in Kashmir Valley. BJP has selected the candidates keeping in mind the political and social structure of Jammu and Kashmir. While Ghulam Mohammad Mir is from the valley, Rakesh Mahajan and Satpal Sharma represent Jammu region.

Who is Ghulam Mohammad Mir?

Ghulam Mohammad Mir is a prominent political and social face of Jammu and Kashmir. His selection points towards the new strategy of BJP, under which the party is trying to strengthen its hold in the Muslim community. BJP believes that after the removal of Article 370, a positive atmosphere has been created in the valley regarding the party’s policies and now is the time to take the local leadership forward. Mir has been associated with the social and educational sector for a long time and has played an active role in many development projects in the valley.

Last day for filing nomination

Political activities regarding Jammu and Kashmir Rajya Sabha elections 2025 have reached their peak. Monday (13 October 2025) is the last day for filing nominations and all the political parties are busy finalizing their candidates. Even after waiting the whole day on Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not announce the names of its candidates, but late at night the party finally announced three names. The party on Sunday called all its 28 MLAs to Srinagar, where nominations will be filed with the candidates today.

Voting will be held on October 24

Voting for these three Rajya Sabha seats is to be held on 24 October 2025. According to the Commission, if a contest is decided on any seat, then counting will be done on the same day. Apart from BJP, opposition party National Conference (NC) has already announced the names of its three candidates. NC has said that it will contest these seats with full force and will maintain opposition unity.

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The Election Commission (ECI) announced elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (September 24). According to the Numberbal in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance can win 3 seats. At the same time, BJP can get a seat.

There are a total of 90 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, out of which two Badgam and Nagrota are currently vacant. In such a situation, the actual number of House becomes 88. It also includes Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik, who is currently in custody under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

What is the mathematics of seats?

The NC, Congress, CPI (M) and Independent MLAs supporting the coalition are 53. The alliance consists of 41 NC, 6 Congress, 5 Independents and 1 CPI (M) MLAs.

BJP has 28 seats. Apart from this, 6 MLAs (from small parties and independents of Kashmir) are neither with BJP nor with alliance. The group consists of 3 PDPs, 1 People’s Conference and 2 Independents (Shabir Kule and Sheikh Khurshid). When connecting Mehraj Malik, this number becomes 7.

Based on the current number, the NC alliance will easily win the first two seats, as it has 53 MLAs, while the BJP has 28. If the BJP does not field candidates, then both these seats will win the National Conference alliance unopposed.

The third and fourth seats will be decided from the joint elections. The NC alliance will get 29 first preference votes for the third seat, which will save 24 second preference votes for the fourth seat. The BJP will have 28 votes, so it is in a position to win the fourth seat.

PDP, People’s Conference and Independent MLAs will not show much impact in elections as they live against both NC and BJP. There is also a possibility of cross-voting.

Which ticket contenders?

Sources in the National Conference said that Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Sajjad Kichlu are at the forefront of the party’s race.

The Congress also wants a seat as a part of the coalition. The party can field a candidate from Jammu region or send an existing MLA from South Kashmir to Rajya Sabha.

If NC decides to field candidates on the fourth seat, then it can take off a young face from South Kashmir, so that he maintained his grip, where he won 10 out of 16 seats in the last election.

The BJP can keep its strategy secret till the last time. The party can take off a former MLA or a new face. Sunil Kumar Sharma, who played an important role in BJP’s victory in the Chenab Valley, will play a major role in making the party’s election strategy.

Seats are vacant since 2021

Biennial elections for four seats of Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir will be held on 24 October. These seats are vacant since 2021. The Rajya Sabha elections for the four seats of Jammu and Kashmir are being held in the Union Territory of about one year after the assembly elections. MLAs elect Rajya Sabha members of their respective states.

Since February 15, 2021, the Union Territory does not represent the upper house of Parliament, the day Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Lave completed their term. Two other members, Fayaz Ahmed Mir and Shamsher Singh Manhas completed their term on 10 February the same year.

Announcing the program, the Election Commission said that the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state has been divided into union territories including Jammu and Kashmir (including Assembly) and Ladakh (Legislative Assembly). According to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, four current members of the Rajya Sabha representing the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be considered elected to fill the seats allotted to Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.

All four seats were lying vacant since the end of the tenure of the existing members, as the essential electorate was not available to hold elections during the vacancies. The Commission said that after the formation of the state assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, an electoral college is required to hold biennial elections. The counting of votes will take place on the evening of 24 October, one hour after the voting ends.