Srinagar: The National Conference’s choice of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls appears to be a blend of strategy and loyalty.
The party announced Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and Sajad Kichloo as its candidates for the elections. Both leaders have lost two consecutive Assembly polls-in 2014 and 2024.
Both Choudhary and Kichloo are believed to be Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s choices and enjoy strong support from the party’s old guard.
With NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah deciding against contesting the polls, Ramzan appeared to be the natural choice for the party.
Ramzan’s seniority and loyalty appear to be the main factors behind his nomination.
While many see the nomination of Ramzan as a strategic move to counter the party’s arch-rival in Kupwara district, Sajad Lone, his age doesn’t support that assumption.
The decision appears to be driven both by his seniority and as a strategic move to counter Lone.
Lone’s PC won one assembly seat in the last election but lost three other seats by narrow margins.
Ramzan, a vocal opponent of the Lone family since 1970s, has served as MLA from Handwara in 1983, 1987, 1996, and 2008. He also held ministerial positions in NC-led governments.
Ramzan lost the 2014 and 2024 Assembly elections to Sajad Lone.
Sajad Kichloo’s nomination is widely seen as a move to counter Sunil Sharma, one of the few BJP leaders in J&K with strong grassroots support.
Sharma surprised many by defeating Kichloo in the 2014 elections in the then Muslim-majority Kishtwar constituency.
He is presently the Leader of Opposition for the BJP in J&K. Sharma won the 2024 Assembly polls from Padder-Nagsenai, a seat carved out during the recent delimitation exercise, and played a key role in the victory of Shagun Parihar against Kichloo.
Kichloo comes from a traditional NC loyalist family and has represented Kishtwar twice-in 2002 and 2008.
His father, Bashir Ahmad Kichloo, who was associated with Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah since the Plebiscite Front days, won the Kishtwar seat thrice-in 1977, 1987, and 1996. He also served as Deputy Minister.
Shammi Oberoi, a trusted aide of Omar Abdullah, also comes from a National Conference family. His father, Dharamvir Singh Oberoi, was picked by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah as mayor of the then Srinagar Municipal Council.
He was also a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, which ceased to exist after the reorganisation of J&K.
Shammi’s nomination seems to be a reward for his loyalty
