Farooq Abdullah opts out of Rajya Sabha race
Srinagar, Oct 11: When the National Conference (NC) on Friday unveiled its list of candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, it sparked immediate chatter across political circles.
The surprise was not about who was included, but rather who was missing - Farooq Abdullah, the party’s patriarch and one of the most seasoned voices from J&K.
For weeks, speculation had been rife that Abdullah, 87, could return to the Rajya Sabha, a move many felt would allow him to represent J&K’s interests in the ‘House of Elders’ at a critical juncture.
Yet, his name was conspicuously absent.
Putting the speculation to rest, NC’s provisional president for Kashmir, Nasir Aslam Wani, told Greater Kashmir that the veteran leader himself chose not to go to Delhi.
“Dr Sahab felt he was more needed in J&K than in Delhi,” Wani said. “It is also good for us that he stays here. Farooq Sahab is doing well, and his presence here matters a lot.”
Party insiders confirmed that while the NC had internally discussed nominating Abdullah for one of the four Rajya Sabha seats, he declined, reportedly citing his health and the need to focus on rebuilding the party’s grassroots connect amid a changing political landscape in J&K.
Wani said that discussions were ongoing with the Congress regarding the fourth Rajya Sabha seat, hinting at a possible understanding between the INDIA bloc allies.
“We will tell about the decision on the candidate for the fourth seat soon; talks are going on with Congress,” he said.
The NC, which enjoys a numerical edge in the 90-member J&K Legislative Assembly, is expected to comfortably win at least three of the four seats.
Abdullah’s decision to stay back marks a new phase in a career spanning over four decades, a journey that has seen him occupy almost every key political position in J&K and at the national level.
He entered politics in late 1970, succeeding his father, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, the founder of the National Conference.
He took over as Chief Minister of J&K following his father’s death, a role he would hold across three non-consecutive terms (1982-84, 1986-90, and 1996-2002).
A skilled orator with an unmistakable charisma, Abdullah became a central figure in J&K’s mainstream politics, navigating alliances with the Congress and, at times, political turbulence within the state.
His tenure as Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy during the UPA government (2009-2014) further cemented his national profile.
He has served in both Houses of Parliament – Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Politically, Abdullah’s decision to remain in J&K can be interpreted as a conscious choice to guide the NC through an evolving political environment.
Analysts say his presence in Srinagar signals an intent to consolidate NC’s base, rejuvenate cadre morale, and personally oversee the party’s poll preparations rather than serving in a symbolic parliamentary capacity.
