Asif Iqbal Naik
Banihal, October 17, 2025:
As part of his outreach ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, National Conference (NC) Rajya Sabha candidate Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo has begun a series of meetings with party legislators across Jammu and Kashmir.
On Thursday, Kichloo met MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen at his residence, where both leaders held detailed discussions on party strategy and strengthening the JKNC’s organizational network across the Chenab Valley.
Sharing details on social media, MLA Sajjad Shaheen wrote, “It was a pleasure to host our Party’s Rajya Sabha candidate, Sajjad Kichloo Sb, at my residence in Banihal. We had a discussion on a range of important issues, including the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections, and exchanged views on the roadmap to further strengthen J&K National Conference across the Chenab Valley. I remain confident that the JKNC will emerge victorious on all four Rajya Sabha seats.”
Party insiders said Kichloo is expected to continue his meetings with other MLAs and senior leaders in the coming days as part of coordinated efforts to ensure a strong and united performance in the elections.
According to number game, four Rajya Sabha seats are up for election on Oct 24 after BJP decided to contest on all the 3 notification, with two seats already notified under the first and second notifications—both considered safe for the National Conference candidates Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan & Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo. The third notification, covering two additional seats, has drawn significant attention as it includes one safe NC seat and one where the contest is expected to be intense.
Within this phase, NC’s Shami Oberoi is seen as comfortably placed, while the fourth seat is witnessing a close contest between BJP’s Sat Sharma and NC’s Imran Nabi Dar. The vote of Independent MLA Khurshid Ahmed Sheikh, brother of jailed MP Er Rashid Sheikh, and Shabir Ahmed Kullay has emerged as crucial, especially with Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference leader Sajjad Gani Lone already announcing that he will abstain from voting, making the support of Independents and smaller parties potentially decisive.
The result for this crucial seat is likely to depend on the support of Independent MLAs, Congress legislators, and the PDP, which has extended only conditional backing to NC candidates. Both NC and BJP are reportedly engaging in active outreach to Independents and smaller parties to secure the few decisive votes that could tilt the balance.
