NC finalises Shamim Begum for Nagrota after Congress refusal
By Times of Kashmir Political Desk
Srinagar, October 20, 2025
The National Conference (NC) on Monday announced Shamim Begum as its candidate for the upcoming Nagrota seat following the Congress party’s decision not to contest the constituency, according to Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
NC’s Provincial President for Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta, said that the party high command has cleared Shamim Begum’s name and she will soon file her nomination papers. Shamim Begum, a Muslim Gujjar woman, won the 2020 District Development Council elections from Nagrota, establishing herself as a key local leader.
The Congress party decided to leave the seat to its ally, the NC, to focus on defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “After detailed deliberations and considering past election results and coalition strategy, Congress chose to leave Nagrota to the National Conference,” the party said.
Tensions between NC and Congress have increased after the former refused to offer a safe seat to Congress in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on October 24. The NC had offered Congress the fourth, riskier seat, which the party declined to contest. Congress expressed disappointment over the NC’s decision, citing the importance of alliance commitments.
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