SRINAGAR: The Congress party has said it’s not going to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir after its alliance partner Omar Abdullah’s the National Conference, refused it a ’safe seat’.
After a marathon meeting with senior leaders, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President, Tariq Hamid Karra, said that it has been unanimously agreed that the Congress will not contest the Rajya Sabha polls, and the decision has been formally communicated to the NC.
“Our Central leaders had spoken to the leaders of the National Conference and asked for a safe seat for the Congress. We wanted seat number 1 or two. But they offered us seat number 4. Since our leaders pointed that that seat number 4 is not a safe seat, we have unanimously decided not to field a candidate,” said Karra.
The party has since openly expressed its disapproval of the Omar Abdullah government, saying its leaders have expressed resentment over governance, administrative issues and development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference has already announced its three candidates for the Rajya Sabha. They will file their nomination on Monday.
The National Conference leaders say they have left the fourth seat for ally Congress.
Numbers indicate the BJP – with 28 MLAs in the assembly — will win one seat. The ruling NC — with 41 MLAs and support of 6 independents, associate members, and six members of the Congress — is expected to win three seats.
This sets up a tough contest for the fourth seat. The Congress said this is not acceptable.
The elections for four Rajya Sabha seats will be held on October 24.The BJP has also named three candidates — among them its J&K unit chief Sat Sharma.
