NC announces candidates for Rajya Sabha polls

Srinagar, Oct 10: National Conference on Friday announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls scheduled on October 24.
Addressing a news conference here, National Conference, General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar named Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan (former minister), Sajad Ahmad Kichloo (former minister of state for Home) and Shammi Oberoi (Treasurer) of its candidate for the polls.
“They will nomination papers in the next few days,” he said, adding that the names of candidates were finalised by the party’s core committee.
Ramzan, a senior National Conference leader from Handwara, has served as minister in NC-led governments. Sajad Kichloo, who hails from Kishtwar, was also a minister in Omar Abdullah-led government.
Shammi, a Sikh face of the party, is a trusted loyalist of Abdullah family.
Sagar said that they are currently in discussion with the National Conference for the fourth seat. “We have kept one seat open and the talks are on with Congress over it,” he said.
The NC leader did not clarify whether they intend to leave one of the three ‘safe’ seats for the Congress or offer them a ‘risky’ seat where the BJP holds an advantage.
Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Wani said they will soon finalise candidates for Budgam and Nagrota by-polls.
“Since the date of filing of nomination papers for RS polls is on Monday, we finalised candidates today. The Parliamentary board will sit again and announce candidates for two candidates,” he said.
In the Rajya Sabha polls, the National Conference-led alliance is poised to win three seats, while the BJP holds an advantageous position for the fourth.
The competition would be between BJP and the alliance candidate on the fourth seat. While the alliance has 24 second preference votes, the BJP has 28 votes. (KNO)