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SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) is poised to nominate party chief and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, along with one leader each from the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region, for the Upper House of Parliament. Meanwhile, NC leader Surinder Choudhary, who recently defeated BJP’s J&K chief Ravinder Raina in Nowshera, is expected to secure a spot in the Council of Ministers.
Sakina Itoo, one of the two women MLAs elected on the NC ticket, and Saifullah Mir, a senior leader from Kupwara, are also likely to join the Cabinet. According to party sources, Dr Farooq Abdullah’s candidacy for Rajya Sabha has already been confirmed by the NC leadership.
Nasir Aslam Wani, a senior NC figure who lost in the Assembly polls, is also being considered for either a Rajya Sabha seat or for a by-election in Budgam, a seat likely to be vacated by Omar Abdullah. Omar, who won from both Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies, is expected to retain Ganderbal.
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It’s anticipated that the NC will nominate two of its Kashmir-based leaders, including Dr Farooq Abdullah, for Rajya Sabha, while the third seat will likely go to a senior leader from Jammu. With 42 Assembly seats secured and support from seven other members, the NC-led alliance has 49 MLAs. Congress, which won six seats, brings the alliance total to 55, ensuring that the NC can claim three out of the four available Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP, with 29 seats, is positioned to claim the fourth seat.
Jammu and Kashmir’s four Rajya Sabha seats have been vacant since February 2021, following the completion of terms by the MPs elected in February 2015. The delay in elections is due to the absence of a legislative assembly.
Within the NC, Sakina Itoo is expected to join the Council of Ministers, making her one of two women MLAs from the party, along with Shamima Firdous. Congress, on the other hand, has no female representation in the Assembly. Either Ali Mohammed Sagar or his son Salman Sagar is also slated for a ministerial position.
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Former Lok Sabha MP Hasnain Masoodi, veteran MLA Javed Rana, and four-time MLA Saifullah Mir are also expected to join the Cabinet. Surinder Choudhary, who defeated BJP’s Ravinder Raina, is all but confirmed for a ministerial role.
The NC’s Hindu representation in the Assembly is limited to Surinder Choudhary and Arjun Singh Raju from Ramban. Among the five Independent MLAs supporting the NC from Jammu, three are Hindus: Pyare Lal Sharma (Inderwal), Satish Sharma (Chhamb), and Dr. Romeshwar Singh (Bani).
The Congress, which won six Assembly seats (five in Kashmir and one in Jammu), is awaiting an offer from the NC regarding its role in the coalition. The Congress high command is expected to make a decision soon on the number of ministries it will be allocated within the new government.
