J&K assembly poll results tomorrow: Opposition slams LG’s ‘undemocratic’ nomination of 5 candidates

Jammu and Kashmir will witness a new chapter on October 8 as the counting for the assembly polls will be held and results declared. The assembly elections were held after a gap of 10 years in the Union Territory. It’s also the first assembly election after the abrogation of Article 370. And with the highest voting percentage, every political party is anxious about the results.

As the countdown to the counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections enters its final hours, a significant controversy has erupted over the Lieutenant Governor administration’s proposal to nominate five members to the Legislative Assembly before a new government is sworn in. These nominated members will have voting rights, including participation in any vote of confidence, raising concerns among political leaders. 

For the first time in Jammu and Kashmir’s political history, the nominated Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will play a crucial role in government formation following a decade-long hiatus. The recent amendment to the J&K People’s Representation Act allows for five nominated members—two representing Kashmiri displaced persons (one man and one woman) and one from the Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) community—who will possess full legislative powers akin to elected representatives. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah strongly condemned the move and said that hearts are not won by force but with love. 

”God Bless his soul. How does it matter? Let him nominate 100, all 90 should be nominated by him. Will he run the state? You don’t win the hearts of people by threatening, You don’t win the hearts of people by force. You win the hearts by love by creating that condition. I am sure he has failed, totally failed,” said Dr Abdullah. 

Tariq Hamid Karra, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir Congress, vehemently criticised the BJP, accusing the party of undermining democracy in the region. 

”It’s a very unfortunate thing that BJP is doing. It’s an unconstitutional and undemocratic thing. They are disregarding the people’s mandate. This was a nefarious design and it was conceived much before elections. The purpose is to undo the people’s verdict. It’s a disregard. The Constitution of India says that the President can nominate members of Rajya Sabha but it’s different here. Here, the LG can nominate people on his whim and wishes. I fail to understand when the president has not been given any arbitrary powers, how come the LG has them. I would call it pre-poll rigging. The BJP’s count will start from six while ours from one,” said Karra. 

The Awami Ittehad Party leader, Engineer Rashid, also called the decision undemocratic and unconstitutional. “I think it’s absolutely unwanted, undemocratic and unconstitutional. What is the fun of electing people from voting? If there was an upper house and they were nominated, it was a different thing. If Modi Ji claims, after abrogation it’s one nation, one country, one symbol but he is thrusting a unique status for Jammu and Kashmir by nominating 5 MLAs. It doesn’t happen in any state and I am sure pressure will build up and it will be revoked,” he said. 

With the majority of exit polls showing the National Conference and Congress coalition getting the majority of seats in the Union Territory, the BJP is also not very far behind. The fight majorly seems between the National Conference and BJP. While the Valley seems to have voted for the regional party, Jammu seems to have chosen BJP yet again. 

Meanwhile, Farooq Abdullah has said that taking over the reins of the government will not be easy for any political party as a lot of things have changed in the last 10 years. The PDP has hinted that they are ready to support the Congress-National Conference, which has been welcomed by both Congress and NC. 

”It’s a heck of a challenge, whichever government will come in power here. The state has gone through terrible tragedies in the last 10 years. To get the state back on rails will not be easy. For that government, it will be a nightmare to bring the state back to normalcy. People are in jail for telling the truth, truth must shine and lies should not be there. We want a government that will keep Jammu and Kashmir united. The BJP only depends on hate. I am very grateful to Mehbooba for saying she will support the formation of the government. She has decided the right thing. For the improvement and peace and prosperity of the state, we all have to work together, and I am glad,” said Farooq. 

All eyes will be on the results, how the situation develops later, and its potential impact on governance in Jammu and Kashmir.