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| After ECI’s initiatives, BJP starts process for Assembly polls in J&K | | Union Minister G Kishan Reddy appointed as party’s election in-charge in J&K | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 17: The ruling BJP has begun preparations for the highly anticipated first Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by appointing Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as the election in-charge.
Following the successful Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated the process of conducting Assembly polls in J&K to establish a representative government in the Union Territory.
An order issued by Arun Singh, the National General Secretary of the BJP, confirmed the immediate appointment of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy as the election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir.
In addition to Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP has also appointed election in-charges for other states that are heading to the polls, namely Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand.
Union ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwani Vaishnaw have been appointed as in-charge and co-in-charge for Maharashtra. For Haryana, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and former Chief Minister Biplab Deb will serve as in-charge and co-incharge. In Jharkhand, Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma have been given charge.
"The appointment of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy indicates that the party leadership is ready to contest the first Assembly elections to form its government in J&K," said a party functionary.
In the recent Parliamentary elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP retained two Lok Sabha seats in Jammu province. However, the party's vote share dropped sharply from 46.2 percent to 24.36 percent. The BJP contested only two of the five Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, supporting like-minded parties on the remaining three. The BJP backed the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party in Anantnag-Reasi and Srinagar and supported the Peoples’ Conference candidate Sajad Lone in Baramulla. Out of the total 90 Assembly segments, BJP and its allies secured leads in only 30 seats. Two BJP candidates led in 29 segments of Jammu province, and the Peoples’ Conference candidate led in the Handwara Assembly segment of north Kashmir.
The Election In addition to J&K, the BJP has also appointed election in-charges for other poll bound states, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand.
The appointment of Union Minister G Kishan Reddy indicates that the party leadership is ready to contest the first Assembly elections to form its government in J&K.
In the recent Parliamentary elections in J&K, the BJP retained two Lok Sabha seats in Jammu province.
Out of the total 90 Assembly segments, BJP and its allies secured leads in only 30 seats.
This process commenced following recent statements by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who expressed confidence in the readiness of Jammu and Kashmir residents to shape their future democratically. He highlighted the significant turnout in the recent Lok Sabha elections as evidence of voters' eagerness to determine their destiny through elections.
The last Assembly elections in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2014. Following Mehbooba Mufti's resignation as Chief Minister after withdrawing support from the BJP on June 19, 2018, the region underwent a period of Governor's rule, transitioning later to President's rule. On August 5, 2019, the central government revoked Article 370 and Article 35A, reorganizing the former state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, the region has been governed by Lieutenant Governors.
In 2020, a Delimitation Commission was established to redefine the boundaries of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies, increasing the number of assembly seats in the union territory from 83 to 90, excluding those designated for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The upcoming assembly elections will be the first in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.
Last year, the Supreme Court upheld the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370, deeming it constitutionally valid. The court directed the Election Commission of India to conduct elections for the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, emphasizing the need for expeditious restoration. |
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