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After Congress refusal, National Conference likely to nominate Imran Dar for 4th seat

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: With the Congress opting not to contest the ‘risky’ seat, the National Conference (NC) is likely to nominate its spokesperson, Imran Nabi Dar as its candidate.

Sources told KNO that Dar is likely to be fielded for the contentious seat, where the ruling alliance holds 24 votes compared to the BJP’s 28.

A journalism graduate from Kashmir University in 2005, Dar is the son of slain NC leader and former MLA Ghulam Nabi Dar, who was killed in a grenade attack during an NC procession in South Kashmir in 2006. Five people, including Dar, lost their lives in the attack, while senior NC leader Sakina Ittoo escaped unhurt.

The 44-year-old Imran Nabi Dar contested his first assembly election in 2014, but did not participate in the 2024 polls, as the National Conference had extended support to CPI (M) in the Kulgam segment. (KNO)

BJP candidates submit nomination papers for Rajya Sabha polls

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) state President Sat Sharma, along with two other candidates-Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir and Rakesh Mahajan-submitted their nomination papers on Monday for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 24.

According to KNO, all three BJP candidates were accompanied by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, and other party MLAs. They arrived at the Assembly Secretariat complex and submitted their nomination papers to the Returning Officer.

Manoj Pandita, Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, is serving as the Returning Officer for the election.

While the BJP holds a strong position for the seat being contested by Sat Sharma, the party has fielded Dr. Ali Muhammad Mir and Rakesh Mahajan for a symbolic contest on seats likely to be won by the National Conference (NC) candidates—Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and Sajad Kichloo.

The ruling alliance, led by the NC, is comfortably positioned to secure three seats. The NC had offered the fourth seat-considered risky-to the Congress, which ultimately decided not to contest. (KNO)

“Sheikh Abdullah was imposed as CM on Congress MLAs in 1975”: LoP Sunil Sharma

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Monday described the Congress party as a “puppet” of the National Conference (NC), claiming that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was imposed on its MLAs as Chief Minister in 1975 following his release from jail.

Speaking to reporters, as per KNO, the BJP leader said that Congress is a non-entity in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Congress doesn’t have its own existence in Jammu and Kashmir. It functions as a puppet of the National Conference. The Congress merely follows decisions made by the NC leadership. It is not an independent party,” he said in response to a question over its decision to opt out of Rajya Sabha polls after being offered the ‘risky’ seat by NC.

He said that NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was imposed on Congress MLAs as CM in 1975.

“If you turn the pages of history, you will see that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was released from jail in 1975 and then imposed on Congress MLAs as Chief Minister.

Even today, all decisions of the Congress party are dictated by the National Conference. The Congress has been repeatedly humiliated by NC, yet it remains unashamed,” he said. (KNO)

Nomination process begins for Budgam, Nagrota assembly by-elections

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: The nomination process for Budgam and Nagrota assembly segments began on Monday with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday issuing two separate notifications for them.

According to the notifications issued by the poll-body, the copies of which is in possession of KNO, the ECI said that candidates can file their nomination papers until October 20 for 27-Budgam and 77 Nagrota.

The poll-body announced that scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 22, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 24.

The voting is scheduled for November 11, with counting set to take place on November 14.

The Budgam seat fell vacant on October 21,2024 after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain Ganderbal constituency following his victory from both seats in 2024 Assembly elections. The Nagrota seat was vacated due to the demise of BJP MLA Devinder Singh Rana on October 31, 2024. (KNO)

BJP Rajya Sabha Candidates to file nomination papers tomorrow in Srinagar

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir—Sat Sharma (CA), Rakesh Mahajan, and Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir—are scheduled to file their nomination papers tomorrow at the Civil Secretariat (J&K Assembly), Srinagar.

KINS reported that the candidates will be accompanied by 28 BJP MLAs, BJP General Secretary (Org) J&K Shri Ashok Koul, and the state party leadership, marking an important step in the BJP’s preparations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

On Saturday, the party held a crucial meeting in Srinagar, attended by all 28 MLAs.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, told KINS, “The main agenda was to plan for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Our Parliamentary Board has announced three candidates, whose nominations will be submitted tomorrow. This meeting was important to decide our strategy and ensure our candidates win.”

Earlier on Saturday, the BJP had announced its nominees for the upcoming elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled for October 24.

The Election Commission of India has issued three separate notifications for the polls. Based on the current assembly composition, the National Conference-Congress alliance has an advantage on three seats, while the BJP is positioned strongly for one.

However, the BJP’s decision to field candidates for three seats is expected to intensify political competition. The party is likely to launch an outreach campaign to seek support from MLAs of other parties to strengthen its chances.

Earlier, on Friday, the National Conference announced its three nominees for the Rajya Sabha elections. (KINS)

Congress declines ‘risky’ Rajya Sabha seat offered by NC

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: After a four-and-a-half-hour marathon meeting, the Jammu & Kashmir Congress unit announced on Sunday that it will not contest the “risky” Rajya Sabha seat being offered by the National Conference.

Speaking to reporters, as per KNO, Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hamid Karra said the party has decided not to contest the fourth seat offered to them.

“A threadbare discussion was held regarding the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The unanimous view among members was that our central leadership had sought a safer seat—either seat number 1 or 2. However, the National Conference offered us seat number 4, which is comparatively less safe. Given the circumstances, it was unanimously decided that we will not field a candidate for seat number 4 and will leave the decision to our alliance partners,” Karra said.

He added that the party has conveyed its position to the National Conference leadership. “We officially wrote a letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding our viewpoint. He asked us to forward the letter to Farooq Abdullah, which we have done. We have not received any response yet,” he said.

He said that Congress members expressed resentment and unhappiness over governance, development issues, and the absence of a coordination committee among alliance partners. (KNO)

BJP, Congress to hold key meetings in Srinagar tomorrow ahead of RS polls and by-elections

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: Ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and by-elections, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are scheduled to hold crucial meetings in Srinagar tomorrow.

Sources told KNO that the BJP will hold its meeting at 1:00 AM in connection with the Rajya Sabha polls. The meeting is expected to be attended by all BJP MLAs and is being convened to finalize the filing of nomination papers for the party’s candidates on Monday.

Despite repeated attempts, KNO was unable to reach Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma for comment.

Meanwhile, the Congress is also expected to hold internal deliberations to discuss seat-sharing negotiations with its alliance partner, the National Conference, regarding the Rajya Sabha polls and by-elections.

The meeting is expected to be chaired by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra and will be attended by all MLAs of the party.

“ The party is holding a meeting tomorrow,” MLA Wagoora- Kreeri Irfan Hafiz Lone confirmed.

As exclusively reported by KNO, the NC is offering the risky seat to Congress. However, Congress is insisting on the allocation of a safe seat. (KNO)

‘146 schools in J&K function with zero enrolments’

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir, at least 61 teachers in are posted or deployed in those schools having zero enrolments—thus raising a question on managing the human resources and quality of education.

Besides, the official data reveals that Jammu and Kashmir has at least 146 such schools wherein no student is enrolled.

According to the official figures mentioned in Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE Plus) 2024-25, Jammu and Kashmir, as per KNO has 61 teachers in those schools having zero enrolments and 146 schools with zero enrolments.

In September, KNO reported that Jammu and Kashmir has at least 1371 schools wherein single teachers have been posted or deployed.

The figures reveal that there is an enrolment of 32,303 students enrolled in those schools where only single teachers are posted or deployed.

Pertinently, in a previous report, the official figures have revealed that in Jammu and Kashmir more than 31,054 students were enrolled in those schools that were functioning with a single teacher.

In the previous report, there were only 1330 schools that were functioning with only a single teacher. However, the recent report suggests that the numbers have increased by at least 41 schools.

Last year, KNO first broke the news of closure of over 4400 government run schools owing to ‘zero or extremely low’ enrolment of students.

In July-2024, the news agency reported that there were a total of 23,117 government run schools in Jammu and Kashmir out of which 4394 have been deleted from the UDISE data.

Despite repeated calls, Secretary, School Education Department and Jammu and Kashmir Samagra Shiksha Project Director were not available to comment on the matter. (KNO)

Omar-led govt lacks political will, says NC MP Ruhullah

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: National Conference (NC) senior leader and Member Parliament (MP) from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday criticised the Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu & Kashmir for “failing to show the intent as needed” on the political front.

Talking to reporters here, Ruhullah, as per KNO said, “As a year has come to an end since the elected government took over, I believe whatever was needed on the political front has not been done so far and the intent that was mandatory has not been shown yet.”

He said the government’s job is not to please him, but to please the people. “If people are happy, then I am happy. But if they have been raising the queries, then the government needs to listen to them with seriousness and should be concerned over it,” he added.

Asked about supporting the party’s candidate in the upcoming by-elections in Budgam, the MP didn’t reveal his move, but said he has already mentioned what the people of Budgam need this time. Mehdi said he will come up with a decision in this regard in the coming days.

Regarding the detention of MLA Doda, Mehraj Malik, Ruhullah said the government, as well as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, should make efforts in this regard and ensure that the latter participates in the Assembly session.

“In the first instance, the MLA should not have been treated the way he has been treated, and now the efforts must be made to ensure his participation in the upcoming Legislative Assembly session,” he said.

Replying to a query on a statement by a BJP leader, MP Mehdi said that it shows the party’s ill intentions. “They want to further disempower the people of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said. (KNO)

Safe vs risky: Seat-sharing standoff continues between NC & Congress

Kashmir Leader Desk
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Srinagar: The ‘standoff’ within the ruling alliance continues over the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. While the National Conference is offering the ‘risky’ seat to the Congress, the latter is pushing for one of the ‘safer’ seats.

Sources said that during negotiations with the Congress high command, the National Conference offered the competitive seat to its alliance partner. However, the Congress is insisting on one of the three safer seats for its candidate.

Sources further said that the Congress may choose not to contest the ‘risky’ seat if NC remains adamant about its offer, given that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a clear advantage on it.

“Talks between the leadership of both parties are still underway. The Congress may opt to stay away from the contest if they don’t concede a safer seat,” sources said.

Speaking to KNO, senior Congress leader GA Mir said there is no clarity yet on the slot on which the party will contest.

“We had requested that the Congress nominee file nomination papers against the first or second notification (safe seats), but there is no clarity yet on the issue,” he said, adding that talks are underway.

“We are expecting that there will be clarity on the issue by tonight or by tomorrow afternoon,” Mir added.

The National Conference on Friday announced the candidature of Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Sajad Kichloo, and Shammi Oberoi.

While the alliance is expected to comfortably win three seats, the BJP holds an advantageous position on the fourth. The alliance has 24 votes, whereas the BJP commands 28 votes. (KNO)

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