Their election to the Upper House is believed to be part of an understanding between the National Conference and the United Front, according to which a National Conference member would be inducted into the Union cabinet.
National Conference is likely to induct Saifuddin Soz who will also be elected from the state to the Rajya Sabha. The National Conference is a member of the United Front.
All the four Rajya Sabha seats from the state are vacant. The sources said that the election to these seats could be held any day now as the new assembly has been constituted. The National Conference, which has a two-thirds majority, is in a position to ensure the election of candidates supported by it in all the four seats. This, however, implies the support of parties like the BSP, Congress, Janata Dal and the Left parties. The fourth Rajya Sabha seat from the state is likely to go to Ghulam Nabi Azad.
