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 h

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