J&K: National Conference names three candidates for Oct 24 Rajya Sabha polls

Srinagar, Oct 10 (PTI) The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday announced the names of its three candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls to be held on October 24, and said discussions were on with the Congress for the fourth seat.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, National Conference (NC) general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said the party has finalised the names of Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi and Sajad Kitchloo as its nominees.

“The party has kept one seat open, and talks are on with the Congress," Sagar said.

Ramzan, a senior NC leader from north Kashmir's Kupwara district, lost last year's Assembly elections to Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone.

Oberoi, a businessman-turned-politician, is the treasurer and Sikh face of the party, while Kitchloo, a former minister and ex-MLA from Kisthwar, lost last year's Assembly polls to BJP’s Shagun Parihar.

Jammu and Kashmir has four Rajya Sabha seats.

Sagar said the names were finalised after a meeting of the NC’s core committee.

Asked if the party has zeroed in on the name of its candidate for the Budgam Assembly bypoll scheduled for November 11, NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani, who accompanied Sagar, said deciding candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls was a priority, as the last date for filing nominations was approaching.

“Meetings and discussions will take place for that (Budgam bypoll),” Wani, who is an advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said.

The seat fell vacant when Abdullah vacated it and retained the Ganderbal seat after winning both constituencies in last year’s Assembly polls.

Wani also welcomed the Supreme Court giving four weeks to the Centre to file its response on pleas seeking restoration of statehood to J-K.

“We welcome the timeframe, and are hopeful that a decision will be taken and statehood will be restored to J-K,” he said. PTI SSB ARI