BJP Picks Sat Sharma for Rajya Sabha Seat; Congress-NC Talks Continue as Farooq Abdullah Opts Out

BJP Nominates Sat Sharma for Rajya Sabha — NC Fields Three, Farooq Abdullah Opts Out

By: Javid Amin | 11 October 2025

In a high-stakes maneuver, BJP stakes claim to one of four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K as NC repositions itself and Farooq Abdullah steps aside.

With the Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu & Kashmir scheduled for October 24, 2025, political parties are locking in their strategies. The BJP has moved decisively by nominating Sat Sharma for one of the four seats. At the same time, the National Conference (NC) has announced three candidates and left the fourth seat for talks with Congress. In a surprise turn, veteran leader Farooq Abdullah has opted out of contesting—citing health and strategic reasons.

These developments are reshaping the alliance landscape, intra-party dynamics, and signalling a shift in generational leadership and regional focus. Below is a deeper look into what’s happening, what is confirmed, what remains fluid, and what’s at stake.

What We Know: Confirmed Moves & Sources

NC Names Three Candidates; Leaves Fourth to Congress

On October 10, the NC announced its picks for three of the four Rajya Sabha seats: Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo, and Shammi Oberoi. The party has stated that the fourth seat is being reserved for its ally, Indian National Congress, pending consensus between the parties.

According to NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, the decision not to field a fourth NC candidate outright is to allow room for coalition accommodation.

NC sources noted that Farooq Abdullah, who had been widely speculated to be a candidate, will not contest. The reasoning offered includes health concerns and a strategic choice to remain active in local politics rather than shifting to Parliament.

The NC’s announcement also underscores that the fourth seat—left open—is part of on-going negotiations with the Congress party.

Farooq Abdullah Opts Out (Health & Strategic Considerations)

Multiple media reports confirm that Farooq Abdullah has withdrawn from the Rajya Sabha race, citing health concerns and a desire to stay more actively engaged in J&K’s political environment rather than joining the national scene.

An NDTV report specifically states he declined to run, noting recent hospitalization as part of the backdrop.

Additionally, while Farooq was long viewed as a natural contender for one of the RS seats, his name was conspicuously absent from the NC’s announced slate, confirming his exit is intentional and not just speculation.

BJP’s Move: Sat Sharma Named (or Strongly Indicated)

While not every source confirms an official BJP announcement naming Sat Sharma, several media reports and party insiders suggest that Sat Sharma—a prominent BJP leader in J&K—is the party’s chosen candidate for one of the Rajya Sabha seats.

Reports indicate that BJP is to formally announce its candidates soon, and that a high-level central meeting is expected to finalize names, including Sharma.

In earlier reports, names like Ravinder Raina, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Sunil Sethi, and Sham Lal were also being floated among the BJP’s shortlist.

The BJP has publicly declared it will contest all four Rajya Sabha seats in J&K.

Interpreting the Moves: Strategy, Signals & Tensions

The developments above are not just procedural; they reflect deeper strategy and internal balancing by political actors in J&K.

BJP: Securing a Stake in the Upper House

By nominating Sat Sharma, BJP is trying to ensure it captures at least one Rajya Sabha seat, leveraging its strength in the Assembly. With 28 MLAs in a 90-member legislature (adjusted for vacancies), the BJP is positioned to claim one seat with internal discipline and possibly leverage support from independents or smaller parties.

The selection of a well known and regionally rooted leader like Sat Sharma suggests BJP wants to project a blend of loyalty (to party cadre) and representation (especially from Jammu region). It also signals the BJP is not content to play mere spoiler—rather, it intends to stake a serious presence in the Rajya Sabha from J&K.

At the same time, BJP’s choice must navigate internal balancing: regional representation (Jammu vs Kashmir), seniority, loyalty, and coalition considerations.

NC and Congress: Managing Alliance and Legacy

The NC’s decision to field three candidates and reserve the fourth seat for Congress reflects both power consolidation and alliance maintenance. It aims to:

• Respect Congress’ presence in the alliance and allocate a stake in the RS contest

• Avoid internal party tensions (e.g. over too many candidates vs limited winnability)

• Signal unity to voters and coalition partners

At the same time, by not fielding Farooq Abdullah, NC signals a generational shift—emphasizing regional, active leadership (i.e. Omar Abdullah’s leadership) rather than projecting senior leaders to national stage.

However, giving Congress the fourth seat is a delicate balancing act—the seat could be a “safe” one or a risk seat. Congress’s six MLAs provide some leverage, but not enough to guarantee success if opposition or cross-voting arises.

Farooq Abdullah’s Exit: Symbolic and Strategic

Farooq’s decision to stay out can be read in multiple ways:

• Health and prudence: At 88, with recent hospitalization, his health concerns are real and publicly acknowledged.

• Regional anchoring: He may believe his effectiveness and relevance lie in local, ground politics in J&K rather than national lawmaking. Some NC sources have said the party needs him more at home than in Delhi.

• Succession planning: His exit frees up space for younger leaders (like Omar Abdullah and others) to occupy national stage positions without overshadowing.

• Political optics: Foregoing a Rajya Sabha seat can serve as an image of humility or dedication to local service rather than ambition.

It is worth noting that his exit is a break in tradition: for decades, the Abdullah family has been active in both state and national politics. His absence signals a shift in that linkage.

Coalition Arithmetic & Risk

• The NC-Congress alliance claims a numerical majority with the backing of independents. But the Rajya Sabha elections are prone to cross-voting, vote transfers (STV system), and backroom negotiations.

• With BJP contesting all four seats, there is competition even for “safe” seats. The alliance must vigilantly shore up its vote bloc and avoid defections.

• The seat reserved for Congress could become a point of tension: will it be a relatively safe seat or a marginal gamble? The nature of that seat may reflect relative bargaining power.

• For BJP, fielding strong candidates in multiple seats may force the alliance to spread its attention, potentially weakening vote concentration in key contests.

What Remains Unconfirmed or Unclear

While many reports align, some matters remain ambiguous or contested:

• It is not yet confirmed from all sources whether Sat Sharma’s nomination is formal and final—some reports still speak of him as a frontrunner or likely choice.

• The exact terms of the seat sharing with Congress (which seat, safe vs risky) remain under negotiation and not publicly locked.

• The degree to which Farooq’s health was the dominant factor versus strategic calculus is speculative.

• There is less clarity on how independents, smaller parties, or MLAs outside the alliance may vote or be courted.

• The internal BJP panel decision—whether it finalizes only Sharma or multiple candidates—remains to be announced in full.

• Possible retaliatory or counter-moves (e.g. appeals to defections, last-minute candidate swaps) cannot be ruled out in this fluid moment.

Political Implications & What to Watch

Shifting Generational & Leadership Dynamics

Farooq Abdullah’s stepping aside is symbolic: the NC is signaling that it is time for new leadership to represent J&K at the national level. The focus is shifting toward Omar Abdullah’s cohort and trusted lieutenants like Shammi Oberoi, Kitchloo, Ramzan. This may recalibrate power balances within NC and the broader coalition.

For BJP, placing someone like Sat Sharma brings its leadership depth and shows that the party is not just a regional actor but aims for sustained presence.

Alliance Testing Between NC & Congress

The Rajya Sabha seat allocation is a test of the NC-Congress partnership’s durability. If Congress feels sidelined or given a weak seat, resentment could grow within the alliance—not just in J&K but in broader INDIA-bloc optics. Their six MLAs are not negligible, so how NC accommodates them matters politically.

Cross-voting & Coalition Vulnerabilities

In Rajya Sabha elections, the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system invites strategic cross-voting, vote transfers, and inducements. If either side has weak discipline, seats may slip. The strength of local party machinery and loyalty will be critical.

Public Perception & Electoral Messaging

How these nominations and alliances are received by the public may affect downstream by-polls (Budgam, etc.) and the forthcoming legislative contests. The narrative of new faces, generational renewal, or betrayal of senior leaders will be part of electoral messaging.

Strategic Reserve for Later Use

NC’s leaving one seat for Congress might give flexibility for later reshuffle, bargaining or contingency. If alliances shift or cross-bench support emerges, that seat could be pivotal.

Possible Outcomes & Scenarios

Based on arithmetic, alliances, and campaign dynamics, here are possible seat distributions and their implications:

The most likely—or least risky—scenario for the NC-Congress bloc is 3:1 split, with BJP getting one. But surprises are not impossible.