The nomination process for four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir commenced on Monday following the issuance of three separate notifications by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The notifications outline the detailed schedule for the upcoming elections to the Upper House of Parliament.
The process began after the President of India formally called upon the elected members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to elect four representatives to the Rajya Sabha.
According to the Election Commission’s schedule, October 13 has been fixed as the last date for filing nomination papers, while scrutiny will be carried out on October 14. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until October 16. Polling, if required, will be conducted on October 24, with counting of votes scheduled for the same day.
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The ECI clarified that three separate elections will be held for the four seats — two individual elections for the first and second seats, and a combined election for the remaining two.
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Political observers believe that the National Conference–Congress alliance is comfortably placed to win three of the four seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to secure the fourth seat owing to its numerical strength in the Assembly.
Officials pointed out that seven independent members of the House, who did not contest Assembly elections on the ticket of any recognised political party, are not bound to disclose their votes to polling agents. Their role may prove crucial in determining the final outcome.
It is pertinent to mention that the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution — which include the anti-defection law — do not apply to Rajya Sabha elections. Consequently, political parties cannot issue whips to their legislators, allowing members to vote as per their individual discretion.
