Srinagar, Oct 24: In the final hours before Friday’s Rajya Sabha polls, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conducted crucial strategy sessions with National Conference (NC) leaders, focusing on securing key votes from independent MLAs. Amid the intense deliberations, sustenance came in the form of regular servings of paneer and onion pakoras accompanied by canteen chai, Abdullah shared on social media platform X.
“Behind the scenes in my office in the assembly complex while we work out the arithmetic and strategy of the Rajya Sabha polls. Sustenance comes from a regular supply of paneer and onion pakodas and canteen chai,” Abdullah posted.
Voting is underway for four Rajya Sabha seats in the Union Territory, marking the first such election since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories in August 2019.
The NC has fielded Chowdhury Mohammed Ramzan and Sajjad Kitchloo in direct contests against BJP candidates Ali Mohammed Mir and Rakesh Mahajan for two seats. For the remaining two seats, party treasurer G S Oberoi (Shammi Oberoi) and state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar are competing against BJP’s Sat Sharma.
The NC, with a 41-member strength, enjoys support from six Congress, three PDP, one CPM MLA, and six independents, giving the coalition an advantage in three of the four seats. However, the fourth seat remains highly contested. Both the NC and PDP had issued three line whips to ensure MLA attendance.
This strategic push highlights the ruling party’s meticulous planning and the stakes involved in maintaining its influence in the Upper House from Jammu and Kashmir.