Jammu, Oct 11: The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC-I) has convened a crucial meeting of its Core Committee today at the party headquarters in Srinagar to discuss and finalise its strategy for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The meeting, scheduled for 12 noon, will be chaired by PCC(I) president Tariq Hamid Karra, who has also invited Congress General Secretary and In-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, Naseer Hussain, to attend the deliberations.
According to party insiders, the primary agenda of the meeting will be to define the Congress’s approach toward seat-sharing arrangements with the National Conference (NC), its ruling alliance partner in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress leadership, sources said, expects the NC to clarify its position on the three Rajya Sabha candidates it announced on Friday, leaving one seat open for possible coordination with the Congress.
While the Rajya Sabha polls are scheduled for October 24, October 13 marks the last date for filing nominations. Congress leaders said the party is still uncertain about which three vacancies the NC intends to contest, and is seeking a clearer understanding before committing to any decision. “We have conveyed our position to the National Conference. Congress wants one assured, winnable seat and not the losing fourth seat, which will inevitably go to the BJP,” a senior party functionary said.
The discussions are expected to cover both electoral arithmetic and political messaging, given that the alliance’s performance in these polls will signal its unity and coordination ahead of the next round of Assembly elections. Party sources indicated that the leadership will also review the strength of its MLAs and potential independent support, assessing where the Congress can field a viable candidate without fragmenting the coalition vote.
The National Conference on Friday confirmed it would field three candidates for the Upper House but left one seat vacant, citing ongoing discussions with Congress. The move is being viewed as an attempt to maintain coalition harmony while accommodating the Congress’s aspirations. The final seat-sharing arrangement is likely to be announced jointly once both sides reach a consensus after today’s meeting.
Apart from the Rajya Sabha elections, the PCC Core Committee is also expected to discuss the party’s stance and preparations for the by-elections in Budgam and Nagrota Assembly segments, scheduled for November 11. The Congress is considering whether to field its own candidates or extend support to alliance nominees depending on the local political context and ground equations.
Party insiders said the meeting will focus not just on immediate electoral strategy but also on reinforcing organisational coordination between the Congress and NC at the grassroots level. “This is a test of both political prudence and partnership discipline. The Congress wants to ensure its role in governance is matched by electoral representation in the Upper House,” a source added.