Omar Abdullah raised concerns over the Centre’s decision to nominate five members to Jammu and Kashmir’s Legislative Assembly, cautioning that the matter may reach the Supreme Court. Under J&K’s governing rules, the Lieutenant Governor holds the power to nominate these members. The Assembly currently consists of 90 elected members, but Abdullah hinted that this move could face legal scrutiny. His warning points to potential constitutional challenges ahead.
National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah voiced strong objections to the Centre’s potential plan to nominate five BJP MLAs to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Abdullah warned the Union government and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha against proceeding with these nominations, stating it could spark unnecessary political conflict.
Under the current rules for Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor has the power to nominate five members to the Legislative Assembly, which presently consists of 90 elected members. If the five nominees come from the BJP, as speculated, the assembly’s strength would rise to 95, shifting the majority mark from 46 to 48.
Abdullah remarked.
“I would suggest they avoid doing it (nominating from BJP). Nominating these five won’t change the government, so what’s the point? You’d be unnecessarily nominating five people to sit in the Opposition,”
Although the BJP, with 29 seats, would still be unable to form a government, the increase in the majority threshold would narrow the NC-Congress alliance’s lead to just one seat above the required majority.
Mr. Abdullah stated,
“Independent candidates are talking to us, and they will join us, so our lead will increase,”
He also cautioned about the possibility of a legal challenge if the nominations moved forward.
Emphasizing that this could create tensions between Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre at a time when cooperation is essential, Abdullah warned,
“There would be a fight, as we would have to approach the Supreme Court and appeal against it,”
He added,
“From day one, there would be strains in our relationship with the Centre, a relationship we want to build,”
The NC-Congress alliance secured victory in the first J&K elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, winning 49 out of 90 seats. Abdullah himself won both constituencies he contested Budgam and Ganderbal with a significant majority.
With 42 seats for the National Conference (NC) and six for the Congress, their alliance comfortably surpassed the initial majority mark of 46. In contrast, the BJP secured 29 seats, improving on its 2014 tally of 25, but still insufficient to take control.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) won one seat, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) saw a significant decline, securing only three seats compared to 28 in 2014. Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami of the CPI(M), a prominent leader from Kulgam, criticized the Centre’s policies, stating,
“The vote of the people is against the BJP government and its policies.”
The NC has once again emerged as the leading force in the region.
Mr. Abdullah asserted,
“There were attempts to destroy the NC over the last five years. So many parties were created solely to destroy us, but they’ve been decimated,”
While Jammu and Kashmir’s integration into the Indian Union following the abrogation of Article 370 remains a divisive issue, the newly elected government faces the challenge of ensuring stable governance in a politically sensitive region.
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Abdullah stressed that any move to nominate BJP candidates without prior consultation would be perceived as an imposition, further isolating local leadership and escalating tensions.
He said,
“Let the government be formed, let them give suggestions, and on that basis, the LG should nominate,”
The NC’s vice president also emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations with the Centre, indicating that cooperation is essential to addressing the complex issues facing the region.
He added,
“We want to build a relationship with the Centre. J&K cannot afford to have contentious relations with Delhi,”
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