In a vibrant display of political fervor, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates submitted their nominations for three Rajya Sabha seats representing Jammu and Kashmir. The nomination process was marked by enthusiastic crowds chanting slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai.’ Accompanied by Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, alongside 28 BJP MLAs and other prominent party figures, the candidates proceeded to the Legislative Assembly complex in Srinagar. The BJP officially declared its nominees for three out of the four vacant seats on October 12. Buoyed by its legislative strength in Jammu and Kashmir, the party expressed strong confidence in securing at least one seat and aims to influence the outcomes of the remaining contests. The elections are scheduled to take place on October 24, 2025.
The chosen BJP candidates are Satpal Sharma, former president and minister, representing the numerically advantageous Jammu region; Rakesh Mahajan, Vice President of the J&K BJP unit, who hails from Rajouri-Poonch; and Ali Mohammad Mir, a senior leader from Budgam, representing Kashmir. Sharma stated their campaign will be driven by the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and assured that any developmental gaps since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 would be addressed. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s commitment to restoring statehood, a promise widely trusted. These seats became vacant in February 2021 following the end of terms for MPs from PDP, BJP, and Congress. With 28 BJP MLAs in the 90-member assembly, the party is assured of one victory. Their decision to contest three seats promises a competitive electoral landscape. The National Conference and Congress, allies, have also put forward their candidates. The NC has nominated Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Shammi Oberoi, and Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, who are positioned to win their respective seats. The Congress, however, has opted out, deeming the fourth seat offered by the NC as ‘unsafe,’ creating ambiguity for the anti-BJP vote on that particular seat.