BJP To Contest All Four Rajya Sabha Seats In J&K, Triggering Direct Face-Off With Ruling National Conference -Led Alliance

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced it will contest all four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu & Kashmir, scheduled for polling on 24 October, Indian Express reported.

The decision came after a party core group meeting, BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi confirmed on Saturday.

The strategy meeting was attended by senior leaders including Union Minister Jitendra Singh and BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who oversees party affairs in Jammu & Kashmir.

According to party sources cited in the IE report, the BJP’s 28-member strength in the Assembly positions it to secure one of the final two seats, for which a joint election will take place.

However, the outcome may hinge on opposition votes.

The party is expected to field a strong contender for the fourth seat to improve its prospects.

There will be separate polls for the first two Rajya Sabha seats.

As per electoral provisions, the four vacancies will be filled through three distinct elections, corresponding to their original biennial cycles.

The ruling National Conference and its allies, commanding a majority of 53 MLAs in the 90-member Assembly, are expected to easily secure the first two Rajya Sabha seats.

On the opposition side, the BJP holds 28 Assembly seats, while the non-BJP bloc—including the PDP—has seven.

One additional seat lies vacant after the demise of BJP MLA Devender Rana.

Breaking from past trends of unopposed elections, the BJP’s decision to contest all four seats ensures a competitive race for the first two Rajya Sabha positions as well.

The four Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant in February 2021 when terms of PDP MPs — Mir Mohammad Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway — BJP’s Shamsher Singh, and Ghulam Nabi Azad (then Congress) ended.

These seats remained unfilled as Jammu & Kashmir was under President’s Rule after its 2019 reorganisation into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The current Legislative Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir was formed following the November 2024 polls.

On 25 September, the Election Commission announced that voting for the four Rajya Sabha seats would take place on 24 October, with nominations closing on 13 October.

Counting of votes is scheduled for the evening of the 24 October.

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Also Read: Elections For Four J&K Rajya Sabha Seats To Be Held On 24 October: EC