Omar Abdullah questions Lieutenant Governor's authority to nominate 5 MLAs in J&K Assembly
Jammu & Kashmir: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah has expressed concerns regarding the Lieutenant Governor’s authority to nominate five members to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Abdullah highlighted that some legal experts within the party have pointed out that the governor does not have the power to make such nominations. He added that people's mandate must be respected.
Abdullah also commented separately on the issue of poll rigging, emphasising that the electoral process should be fair and transparent, and urged authorities to ensure that no irregularities take place in the Assembly elections.
The issue surrounding the nomination of MLAs has gained significance ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly results. If the Lieutenant Governor proceeds with the nominations, the majority mark required to form the government could rise to 48, potentially impacting the final outcome in a closely contested election.
The rules for nominating members were amended in 2023 to include Kashmiri migrants, which has further intensified the debate over the Lieutenant Governor’s powers. With the final results for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections coming out, the matter of nominated MLAs could play a crucial role in determining the region's political future.
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Congress’ Chaudhary Lal Singh, noted for supporting Kathua rape accused, loses Basohli Assembly seat
Basohli: Congress leader Chaudhary Lal Singh lost the Basohli Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir by 16,034 votes to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Darshan Kumar, according to data from the Election Commission. Kumar secured 31,874 votes, while Singh, a former minister in the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, garnered 15,840 votes.
Singh had previously won the Basohli seat in the 2014 Assembly polls after switching from Congress to the BJP. He returned to Congress in March 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Singh’s nomination had drawn criticism due to his participation in a 2018 rally in support of the accused persons in the Kathua rape and murder case.
In September, the Constitutional Conduct Group, a collective of former civil servants, criticized the Congress for fielding Singh, stating that his candidacy contradicted the party’s stand against the politics of hate.
The 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections were the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The polls were held in three phases, with a voter turnout of 63.8%. The Legislative Assembly has 119 members, including 24 designated for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and five appointed by the lieutenant governor. A party or alliance needs 48 seats for a majority when the House has 95 members.
