Congress Protests Central Government’s Pre-Election Nomination of Five MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, October 6, 2024, Kolkata: As the counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections approaches on October 8, the Congress party has expressed fierce opposition to the central government’s decision to nominate five members to the assembly prior to the election results.

The Congress leadership has condemned this move as a direct assault on democratic principles and constitutional integrity. They have formally requested Jammu and Kashmir's Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha, to withhold approval for these nominations, emphasizing that such actions undermine the electorate's mandate.

According to the stringent amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act of 2019, the assembly is set to include five nominated members, with their selection to be approved by the Lt. Governor based on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs. To achieve a majority, a party must secure 48 members.

Ravinder Sharma, vice-president of the Jammu-Kashmir Pradesh Congress, stated, "We oppose the nomination of five MLAs by the Lieutenant Governor before the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. This is an attack on the fundamental principles of democracy, the people's verdict, and the Constitution." The Congress insists that nominations should only occur after a new government is formed, warning that any other course of action would betray the voters' will.