Congress Awaits Clarity on Seat Share from NC Ahead of Rajya Sabha Polls

SRINAGAR: The Congress leadership on Friday said that no final decision has been made regarding whether the party will contest one of the three safer seats or a more competitive one.

Sources in the party’s high command said that discussions between the leadership of both parties are ongoing, and the specific seat that the Congress candidate will contest has not yet been finalised.

“It is yet to be decided which seat the party will contest,” sources said, adding that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken to National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah about the matter a few days ago.

During the talks, NC leadership had expressed willingness to spare one of the seats for Congress, which currently has six MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

They further said that party MP Syed Naseer Hussain, who serves as General Secretary and is in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, is in regular touch with the NC leadership over the issue.

A possible meeting between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is presently in New Delhi, and senior Congress leaders has not been ruled out, sources added.

While the ruling alliance is expected to comfortably win three out of the four seats, the BJP holds an advantage on the fourth seat, with 28 votes compared to the alliance’s 24.

Earlier in the day, NC announced its nominees for the Rajya Sabha polls. Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi have been named as the party’s candidates. (KNO)