Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir will have representation in the Rajya Sabha after nearly five years, as three National Conference leaders are set to take their oath as members of the Upper House of Parliament on Monday, the first day of the Winter session.
As per KNS, Shammi Oberoi, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, and Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan will be administered the oath by Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.
With this, Jammu and Kashmir will formally resume participation in Rajya Sabha proceedings after a prolonged gap since the reorganization of the state and the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
The three leaders were elected in the Rajya Sabha polls held on October 24 for the four seats allocated to the Union Territory.
The National Conference secured three of these seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party won one seat, with its nominee Sat Sharma having already taken oath earlier.
Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, a former minister with multiple terms in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, will bring his legislative experience to the Upper House.
Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, also a former minister from Kishtwar, and Shammi Oberoi, the party treasurer, will join him in representing the National Conference in Parliament.
Ahead of the session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju convened a meeting of floor leaders on Sunday to discuss coordination during the Winter session.
The three-week-long session, scheduled from December 1 to December 19, will see the government push several key legislative proposals, including the ‘Atomic Energy Bill, 2025’ to regulate atomic energy use, the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, and eight other draft legislations.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the participation of the newly elected Rajya Sabha members marks a significant step in restoring the Union Territory’s voice in national policy-making.
The leaders will formally take part in parliamentary debates and discussions from Monday, marking the return of J&K’s representation in the Upper House after a hiatus of nearly five years.
The Winter session will consist of 15 sittings, providing an opportunity for the new members from Jammu and Kashmir to engage in the Rajya Sabha.
