UPPER HOUSE, UPPER CUT

Omar, still shy of statehood dream, battles a surge of dissent after RS poll fiasco

- Kaleem Geelani

RAMESHWAR SINGH, THE MLA FROM BANI in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district, spoke in a conspiratorial tone. "I'm in hiding, not telling anyone where I am. This attention is rare and joyful," he told INDIA TODAY. "I'm not giving my vote away too easy, without conditions and commitments to my constituency." Singh, the lone Independent MLA from Jammu, was feeling a rare surge of importance, like his peers in the year-old assembly. The province had a renewed tryst with Rajya Sabha elections on October 24, for four seats lying vacant since February 2021-and both sides were seeking his favours. The unsung MLA was at last in demand!

In the end, the ruling National Conference bagged only three seats; its plans of a clean sweep were sabotaged by the Opposition BJP springing a surprise with a nailbiter on the fourth one.

For the NC, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, a duo that had managed to flop even during their triumphant assembly poll outing, were the first to go through to Parliament.

KNOTS, CROSSES