Overview

• Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said the party will not field a candidate after NC declined its request for a safer slot and offered seat number 4 instead.
• NC has named three candidates who are expected to win on the strength of its Assembly numbers, leaving the fourth seat as the only competitive contest.
• Congress formally conveyed its stance in a letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, forwarded to Farooq Abdullah, and said it has not received a response.
• BJP has nominated state president Sat Sharma for the fourth seat and is reported to hold a numerical advantage, with coverage citing 28 votes against the alliance’s 24 on that seat.
• In the 90-member Assembly, the NC–Congress bloc holds 53 seats and BJP 28, with Congress leaders also airing governance grievances and some urging a rethink of ties ahead of the October 24 vote.