PM Modi’s scheduled meeting with political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir on June 24 has raised anticipation of a possible assembly election in the region soon.
On June 19, 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir government led by Mehbooba Mufti fell after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) snapped ties with ally Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since then, Jammu and Kashmir has been bifurcated into two Union Territories — the other being Ladakh, Article 370 has been abrogated ending its special status (both decisions were taken in 2019) and a new elected body, the District Development Council (DDC), has been created (2020).
PM MODI TO MEET J&K LEADERS
Now, there is fresh buzz about Jammu and Kashmir, both in New Delhi and in the Kashmir Valley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a meeting with political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir this week on June 24. Invitations have been sent to 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, reports say.
Reports also suggest that the agenda of PM Modi’s meetings with the Jammu and Kashmir leaders is “to strengthen political processes” in the Union Territory. In an interview to The Times of India, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said, “…polls in J&K will be held after delimitation”.
Delimitation is a process of reorganising territorial boundaries of existing constituencies for election to various bodies.
Among the invitees are former chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and heads of mainstream political parties. Six months after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, a delimitation commission was set up. Headed by Justice (retired) Ranjana Desai, the delimitation commission was given an extension of one year in March. The process is underway.
Some sources indicate that delimitation of constituencies is going to be among top issues in PM Modi’s meeting with the Jammu and Kashmir leaders this week.
J&K ASSEMBLY
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 — that birfucated the erstwhile state — raised the number of assembly constituencies in the Union Territory from 107 to 114 including the 24 seats falling under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
In practice, the effective strength of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly when elected will increase from 83 to 90. There is another speculation going on that the government may opt for nominating 24 members to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly till the corresponding constituencies remain under Pakistan’s occupation.
ELECTION SOON?
The government, including PM Modi, has said election would be held in Jammu and Kashmir and statehood restored at “an appropriate time”. Many view June 24 meeting as the beginning of a long-drawn process towards that end.
However, some others link it to external factors such as withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, the military situation with China in Ladakh and PM Modi’s visit to the US later this year. A step towards restoration of political normalcy is likely to work favourably for the central government.
For three years, Jammu and Kashmir has been under central rule with no locally elected government. The DDCs are new and with the lack of active interest shown by major political parties, they are said to be facing obstacles. It is yet to have a well-defined charter for working.
With this as the backdrop, PM Modi’s first meeting with the political leaders has raised anticipation of an assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir, possibly along with Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in February-March 2022.
