October 8, 2025

New Delhi: The political pot in Jammu and Kashmir is bubbling fiercely! Congress has boldly asked its ally, the National Conference (NC), for a Rajya Sabha seat from the union territory. This request is stirring the pot, as it’s seen as a reality check on how strong the alliance really is. Congress leaders declared their wish just before the Election Commission announced polls for four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K, scheduled later this month. What makes this move daring? Congress holds only six MLAs in the J&K assembly, a small number compared to others. But the Congress isn’t backing down. They have three fiery reasons for this demand. First, they have not taken any ministerial post in Omar Abdullah’s government – so no perks yet. Second, they want to give a spot to a leader from Jammu, balancing the region's representation. Third, together with NC and similar parties, Congress claims they have enough strength to grab three of the four seats. Their suggestion? NC can keep two seats and generously share one with Congress. The stakes are sky-high because the Rajya Sabha elections will happen in three rounds on the same day—one seat in each of the first two rounds and two seats in the last. NC, with a solid 41 MLAs and support from five independents plus an ally CPI-M MLA, holds the power to call the shots. Political insiders say NC faces a tough choice: Should it be generous and give Congress a seat, or try to sweep all three seats for itself? Meanwhile, BJP isn’t sitting quietly. With 28 MLAs and their decision to fight for every single seat, they’ve thrown a wrench into the alliance strategy, raising the competition to a thrilling level. The usual party whips won’t apply, making the contest even trickier. Adding more spice to the game, parties like TDP with 3 MLAs, AAP with 1, and some independents are under the spotlight, as their moves could swing results. The real relationship between NC and Congress has been mysterious since the assembly polls. Now, the way NC reacts to Congress’ bold Rajya Sabha claim will give everyone a clear peek into their true political friendship. Will the alliance hold strong or crack under pressure? Only time will tell!

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Tags: Congress, National conference, Jammu and kashmir, Rajya sabha elections, Coalition politics, Election commission,