SRINAGAR: In a significant reshuffle ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls, the National Conference (NC) on Friday unveiled three names for the upcoming Upper House elections from Jammu & Kashmir, omitting party veteran Farooq Abdullah, citing health reasons.
Senior NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani announced that Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi, and Sajad Kichloo had been finalised, while discussions with Congress continue over the fourth seat.
Farooq Abdullah, who first entered Parliament in 1980 at age 43, is among India’s longest-serving parliamentarians. Sources said he voluntarily opted out on medical grounds.
Ramzan, a former minister, lost to Sajad Lone in the Doda region last year. Kichloo’s nomination aims to strengthen NC’s presence in Chenab Valley, while Oberoi, a Sikh leader close to Omar Abdullah, enhances outreach to minority communities.
With NC holding 41 seats in the 90-member J&K Assembly and Congress controlling six, the two allies are well positioned to secure a majority. The BJP, which has 27 MLAs, may attempt to contest the remaining seat through alliances.
