In the run-up to the biennial Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for October 24, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir have begun lobbying to fill the four vacant seats.
With 28 members in its kitty, the BJP is likely to win at least one Rajya Sabha seat. However, the party has decided to contest all the seats. On Saturday, members of the BJP’s core group met in Jammu to discuss the names of probable candidates who are likely to be given the mandate to contest the Rajya Sabha polls.
The core group meeting, chaired by the National General Secretary and party in charge, Tarun Chugh, was also attended by three party MPs, including MOS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Jugal Kishore, and Ghulam Ali. Party President (J&K) Unit Satpal Sharma, Organisation Secretary Ashok Kaul, former President Ravinder Raina, Dr Nirmal Singh, Dr Narinder Singh, Darakshan Andrabi and others.
According to party insiders, the names of the former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister, two former party presidents, and a few others figured prominently during a free-wheeling discussion.
Party high command is likely to finalise the final list of party candidates in the coming days.
Addressing media persons here at the party headquarters in Jammu, Chief Spokesperson Sunil Sethi said during the meeting of the core group, a detailed discussion took place on the prevailing political situation and the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. He said the party has decided to contest all Rajya Sabha seats scheduled for election on October 24. “We have decided to contest all seats. We are fielding three candidates.”
Sethi said that the focus of the meeting was on the kind of individuals needed to represent the party in the Rajya Sabha. “It was not about specific individuals, but rather the qualities of individuals who can effectively represent the party in the Rajya Sabha,” he said. He added that the views of the core group would be conveyed to the party high command.
While the BJP will field one candidate each for the first two seats, it will field only one candidate for the remaining two seats, for which only one election will be held.
The BJP is expected to field the first two candidates for a ‘symbolic’ fight against the ruling NC-led alliance, which will win both these seats comfortably. However, the party is expected to field a heavyweight candidate for one of the two remaining seats, where it has strong chances of winning.
In the House, the National Conference-led alliance has 53 members, while the BJP has 28 members. The non-BJP opposition bloc comprises seven members.
