Srinagar, Oct 23: The National Conference (NC) has issued a strict three-line whip to all its MLAs, directing them to ensure their presence in the legislative assembly and vote in favour of the party’s candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for Friday.
The directive, issued by NC’s chief whip Mubarak Gul, instructs legislators to refrain from abstaining, remaining absent, or voting against the party’s official nominees. The whip underscores the party’s resolve to maintain unity and discipline during the crucial Upper House polls.
The NC has fielded candidates for all four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated three. Given its numerical strength in the 90-member assembly, the NC is expected to comfortably secure three of the four seats, while the contest for the fourth is anticipated to be closely fought.
Party insiders said the leadership views this election as a test of loyalty and coordination among its legislators, especially as the results could influence the balance of power in the national arena. The whip serves to prevent any cross-voting or dissent that could weaken the party’s standing or alter the electoral outcome.