Tariq Karra Convenes High-Level Congress Meet to Chart Course for Rajya Sabha Battle

Srinagar, Oct 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress has convened a high-level meeting of its core committee to discuss the outcome of deliberations held between the party’s central leadership in New Delhi and the National Conference (NC) regarding the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 24.

Addressing the media ahead of the meeting, J&K Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra said the discussions between the two parties at the national level have reached an advanced stage, and the state leadership will now evaluate the situation and finalize the next course of action in consultation with senior leaders from both regions of the Union Territory.

“We have called a meeting of the party’s core group to brief them on the deliberations held between the Congress high command and the National Conference leadership. The collective opinion of our senior members from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions will guide our final strategy for the Rajya Sabha polls,” Karra said.

The meeting, being held at the Congress headquarters in Srinagar, is being chaired by Karra and attended by several prominent leaders, including former ministers, legislators, and senior office-bearers of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC). Party sources said the session aims to build consensus on how the Congress will approach the election to the four Rajya Sabha seats, given the ongoing coordination and seat-sharing talks with the National Conference.

The National Conference, which heads the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, had earlier announced three candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections, leaving the fourth seat open as discussions with the Congress leadership continued. The decision has fueled political speculation that the Congress may be fielding a joint candidate with NC support, depending on the outcome of the ongoing negotiations between the two parties’ central leaderships.

The upcoming polls are significant as they will determine representation from Jammu and Kashmir in the Upper House of Parliament for the first time since the reconstitution of the Union Territory. With the NC-Congress alliance holding a numerical advantage in the Legislative Assembly, both parties are expected to coordinate closely to secure as many seats as possible.

According to party insiders, the Congress leadership in Delhi has maintained regular communication with senior NC figures, exploring options for mutual cooperation to prevent division of votes that could favor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has already announced three candidates of its own for the four seats.

Karra emphasized that while the final decision rests with the party’s central leadership, the views of the J&K Congress core group will play a crucial role in shaping the local strategy. “Our discussions are based on principles of coordination and unity among like-minded parties. The Congress remains committed to ensuring that the collective voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is effectively represented in Parliament,” he said.

The deliberations come amid heightened political activity in both Srinagar and Jammu as parties gear up for the October 24 elections. The nomination process for the four Rajya Sabha seats is already underway, with October 13 being the last date for filing nomination papers.

The Congress meeting is expected to conclude with a formal resolution outlining the party’s stance on alliance arrangements, candidate selection, and floor strategy during the upcoming polls. Party sources indicated that any final announcement will likely follow further consultation with the Congress high command in New Delhi after the core committee’s recommendations are submitted.

Observers note that the outcome of these discussions could set the tone for future political cooperation between the Congress and National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, potentially influencing not just the Rajya Sabha elections but also broader alliances ahead of the next Assembly polls.