‘After Cong pull-out, it is NC versus BJP’
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 13: Four candidates from ruling National Conference (NC) and three from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were among nine candidates who filed nomination papers for the four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir voting later this month.
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A total of nine candidates submitted their nomination papers before Manoj Pandita, the Secretary of Assembly who is Returning Officer of the election here today.
Those who filed nominations are National Conference’s Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and BJP’s Ali Muhammad Mir for the first notification, under which the election will be held for one seat. One Prabhakar Dada also filed nomination papers for the seat.
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Choudhary Ramzan is likely to go through as the NC-led alliance has 53 MLAs. He can win the seat without Congress support. For this seat, the BJP has the support of its 28 MLAs.
NC’s Sajad Kichloo and BJP’s Rakesh Mahajan filed nomination papers for the second notification, under which elections will be held for one seat. Kichloo is expected to go through as the voting pattern is the same as that of the first seat.
Under the third notification, for which a combined election will be held for two seats, NC’s Gurwinder Singh Oberoi and Imran Dar, and BJP’s Sat Pal Sharma have filed nomination papers. Another candidate Kante Sayanna has also filed nomination papers for this seat.
The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes will win these two seats.
The NC-led alliance is expected to ensure the victory of Gurwinder Singh Oberoi alias Shammi Oberoi by securing a minimum of 29 votes for him, while allocating the remaining 24 votes to Imran Dar. Meanwhile, BJP MLAs are expected to cast all 28 votes in favor of Sat Sharma.
Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination, BJP candidate Rakesh Mahajan expressed gratitude to the party leadership and optimism over the outcome.
“I am thankful to the national leadership who has given such an honour to a small person. I am sure that we will win all the three seats. BJP gives time to every worker, and all the workers work together. All get their due right,” he said.
Party president Sat Sharma, who is also contesting elections, took a jibe at the ruling NC while outlining the party’s electoral ambitions.
“We will fight with all our strength and we will script history. We will ensure that we win at least more than one seat,” he said.
Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir, another candidate, said he was honoured to be given such a huge responsibility.
“Entire Kashmir is happy. I thank the central leadership that considered me competent for this,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after accompanying the candidates for filing the nominations, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq confirmed that the process had been completed and expressed hope that the party will win all the four seats.
“At the same time, it is unfortunate that Congress did not agree on what was offered to them. I urge the secular forces to support these candidates,” he said.
Senior NC leader, Chowdhary Muhammad Ramzan, who has also been nominated for the Rajya Sabha election, said the party would strive to meet public expectations if elected.
“We will come up to the expectations of people. There are a number of issues that must be addressed-developmental and political. There are issues which will be talked about,” he said.
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