Srinagar – Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his National Conference (NC) is ready to win all four vacant Rajya Sabha seats. The party met its allies on Wednesday, laying out a strategy for the upcoming election.
The NC called a meeting in Srinagar with the Congress, CPI‑M and five independent Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The NC’s leader, Dr Farooq Abdullah – a former chief minister – was also present. Most of the Congress MLAs stayed home, but the CPI‑M MLA, Yusuf Tarigami, and the five independents joined the discussion.
After the meeting, Abdullah told reporters that talks about securing the Rajya Sabha seats are a regular practice before the Assembly session. “We discussed how our candidates can win all four seats,” he said. He thanked the CPI‑M and independent MLAs for their support.
When asked why the Congress didn’t attend, Abdullah said it didn’t matter. “They had their own meeting today and promised not to support the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls.” He added that the Congress must seek permission from its higher command before making big decisions, citing an earlier incident where the party delayed a by‑poll seat that had been offered to the NC.
Abdullah also brought up talks with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “One of our candidates, Shami Oberoi, met PDP President Mehboob Mufti today,” he said. “The NC president also spoke to him on the phone. Mehboob said he would decide after consulting his party leaders.”
The chief minister didn’t spare the BJP in his remarks. He slammed a BJP Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, Medha Kulkarni, for staging a protest at a Pune fort following a Muslim women’s prayer there. “When BJP is under pressure in Bihar, it stokes communal tension to divide voters,” Abdullah said, calling the tactic unfortunate.
The NC’s confidence comes as the nominations for the four Rajya Sabha seats—up for election after more than a decade—are being finalized. The party’s plan is to use its allies to block opposition support and secure a clean sweep.
Source: ianslive
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