Nomination Process Begins for Four Rajya Sabha Seats from J&K as ECI Issues Poll Notifications
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: The race for four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir formally began on Monday with the Election Commission of India (ECI) issuing three separate notifications announcing the schedule for the biennial elections. The notifications followed a presidential order summoning the elected members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to elect new representatives to the Upper House of Parliament.
According to the detailed schedule released by the ECI, October 13, 2025, will be the last date for filing nomination papers, while scrutiny of the nominations will take place the following day, October 14. Candidates wishing to withdraw their nominations can do so until October 16. If required, polling will be held on October 24, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day, ensuring a swift electoral process.
The Commission announced that three separate elections will be held to fill the four vacancies. Individual elections will be conducted for the first two seats, while a combined election will determine the winners of the remaining two seats. This staggered process is intended to ensure procedural clarity and adherence to the electoral guidelines governing Rajya Sabha polls.
Early indications suggest that the National Conference–Congress alliance is poised to secure three of the four seats, reflecting its current strength in the Legislative Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, is well-positioned to win the remaining seat, backed by favourable numbers and the likely support of several independent legislators. There are currently seven independents in the House who did not contest the Assembly elections on tickets from any registered political party and are not bound to reveal their voting choices to polling agents.
Political observers note that the Rajya Sabha elections differ significantly from Assembly or Lok Sabha polls due to the unique rules governing the voting process. Notably, the anti-defection provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution do not apply to Rajya Sabha elections, meaning that parties cannot issue a binding whip to their members. This often allows greater flexibility in voting patterns, potentially influencing the final outcome.
The upcoming elections are expected to carry considerable political weight, as the results will influence the representation of Jammu and Kashmir in the Upper House at a crucial time for the Union Territory’s political landscape. With both the ruling BJP and the opposition alliance viewing these seats as strategically significant, the coming weeks are likely to see intense political activity, negotiations, and alliances as parties seek to consolidate their positions ahead of the October 24 vote.
The initiation of the nomination process marks the formal beginning of the electoral contest, setting the stage for a closely watched political battle that will shape J&K’s voice in the Rajya Sabha for the years ahead.
