Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajya Sabha Elections: Restoring Representation After Four Years
Mushtaq Bala
For the first time since 2021, Jammu and Kashmir will elect representatives to the Rajya Sabha, India’s Upper House of Parliament. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has scheduled polling for October 24, marking a significant step toward restoring the region’s parliamentary voice after years of political dormancy.
Four Rajya Sabha seats have remained vacant since Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganisation in 2019 and the dissolution of its Assembly. With a newly elected 90-member legislature now in place, this vote carries symbolic and political weight, testing alliances across a sharply polarised landscape.
A Long Hiatus and Its Causes
The vacancies date back to February 2021, when the terms of Mir Mohammad Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway (PDP), Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP), and Ghulam Nabi Azad (then Congress) expired. Following the revocation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—J&K (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without)—President’s Rule and the absence of an Assembly froze the electoral process.
According to The Hindu (September 24, 2025), no Rajya Sabha election could be held during this period because Article 80 of the Constitution requires an elected legislature. The COVID-19 pandemic and delays in conducting assembly polls further prolonged the gap.
The 2024 elections—J&K’s first in a decade—finally restored legislative normalcy. The ECI announced the Rajya Sabha polls on September 24, 2025, with nominations closing on October 13 and scrutiny the next day. Voting will take place on October 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the J&K Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar, and results are expected that evening.
Unlike assembly elections, the anti-defection law does not apply here, leaving room for strategic cross-voting.
The Cost of Absence
Jammu and Kashmir’s absence from the Rajya Sabha since 2021 meant it had no role in the 2022 presidential or 2025 vice-presidential electoral colleges. Regional parties such as the NC and PDP have called this democratic silence “a by-product of central control” after the abrogation of Article 370.
In August 2025, the Union Law Ministry clarified that the four new members’ terms will end concurrently in 2031—a procedural alignment reflecting the transition to Union Territory status.
Electoral Dynamics: Alliances and Numbers
The 90 elected MLAs form the electoral college. The NC-led alliance—comprising the National Conference (42 seats), Congress (6), and four supportive independents—commands roughly 52 votes, enough to secure at least three of the four seats under the proportional-representation system.
The BJP, with 29 MLAs (mostly from Jammu), is expected to retain one seat but will find it difficult to expand further. Smaller parties—the PDP (3), People’s Conference (1), Awami Ittehad Party (1), CPI(M) (1), and AAP (1)—could influence results through preference transfers or tactical voting.
As reported by The Print (October 2025), the ECI has structured the contest into three separate polls for four seats, an unusual arrangement linked to earlier allocations under the Representation of the People Act (1951).
Key Players and Political Moves
• National Conference (NC):
On October 11, the NC announced three candidates led by veteran Ghulam Mohammad Mir, reflecting confidence in its legislative strength. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the election a step toward restoring J&K’s “dignity and representation” in Parliament. With coalition support, the NC is positioned to win two—and possibly three—seats.
• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP):
The BJP fielded Sat Pal Sharma, Rakesh Mahajan, and Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir from Budgam, a symbolic pick meant to reach Kashmir’s electorate. With 29 votes—short of the 45 needed for two seats—the party hopes for support from independents or cross-voting. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma has framed the contest as a choice between “integration and development” and “regional dynasties.”
• Congress and Alliance Strains:
The Congress, part of the INDIA bloc, decided not to field candidates, citing insufficient consultation by the NC. As reported by The Indian Express (October 14, 2025), J&K PCC chief Tariq Hamid Karra described the NC’s offer of the “fourth and least secure seat” as tokenistic. The rift has spilled into upcoming by-elections in Budgam and Nagrota, testing opposition unity ahead of national polls.
Smaller outfits—including the PDP and People’s Conference—have kept their options open, while the AAP’s sole MLA, detained under the Public Safety Act, is unlikely to participate in voting.
Beyond the Ballot: Restoring J&K’s Voice
These elections are more than a procedural exercise—they signify Jammu and Kashmir’s full return to parliamentary participation after years of political void.
For the NC, a decisive victory would enhance Omar Abdullah’s standing and reinforce the call for statehood restoration. For the BJP, retaining representation would strengthen its narrative of integration and continuity.
Meanwhile, the Congress-NC rift and the positioning of smaller parties reflect an evolving political map—Jammu leaning toward the BJP, Kashmir reaffirming regional loyalties.
As October 24 nears, attention will focus on turnout, cross-voting, and coalition discipline. With Ladakh pressing for autonomy and J&K’s statehood demand unresolved, this election is not merely about four seats—it is about reclaiming a voice in India’s federal framework.
Sources: Election Commission of India notifications; The Hindu (Sept 24 2025); The Indian Express (Oct 14 2025); Greater Kashmir & Hindustan Times (Oct 12–13 2025); The Print (Oct 2025).
(Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are of the authors & not necessarily that of the Straight Talk Communications)
