President of the National Conference Farooq Abdullah Addressing Press Conference in Srinagar 25 September 2025. Photo Credit: Imran Nissar
The National Conference (NC) on Friday (October 10, 2025) announced the names of three candidates for Rajya Sabha’s upcoming elections in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). The party canceled the name Farooq Abdullah for “Health Reasons”. He also maintained one candidate undecided, because conversations with the coalition partner of Congress are turned on.
“We have completed three candidates, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi and Sajad Kichloo, for Rajya Sabha chairs. These are interviews for the fourth seat,” said Nasir Aslam Wani, head of NC.
JKNC Choudhary Ramzaan, Sajjad Kitchloo & Party Treasurr Shammi Oberoi will represent JKNC in Rajya Sabha.
– JKNC (@JKNC_) October 10, 2025
Mr. Abdullah, elected to Lok Sabha for the first time in 1980 at the age of 43, was the longest serving party deputy in both houses from 2002 to 2014. The head of the NC said Mr. Abdullah “for health reasons”.
Mr. Ramzan, a loyalist of seniors and a former minister, lost the elections to the 2024 elections with the Chief of the J&K Peoples Sajad Lone conference. Mr. Kichloo’s nomination is the offer of the party to strengthen its base in the Chenab Valley, including the Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah districts. Mr. Oberoi, who comes from the minority of Sikh Community, is considered to be a close confidant of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The NC-Congress Alliance has to decide on the fourth chair in J&K. “It was intentionally maintained open. There are discussions with Congress,” said NC Secretary General Ali Muhammad Sagar.
In the 90-member assembly, the NC has 41 members and has the support of six independent. Congress has six members and the People’s Democratic Party has three. BJP has 27 seats in the assembly and will need numbers to get two places in J&K.
Two chairs were released in the J&K assembly after Omar Abdullah released from the Budgam constituency and kept the Ganderball armchair after the elections and last year the death of the nagrot Mla Devender Singh Rana.
Published – October 10, 2025 9:59 PM
