Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 10: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah expressed his anguish over the decision of the Election Commission of India not to conduct bye-elections in the two Assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Conference president also expressed his anguish over the delay in announcing elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir.
“What is the problem in holding elections on two vacant Assembly seats in J&K namely Budgam in Kashmir Valley and Nagrota in Jammu region?’, Dr. Abdullah asked during an interview with the news channel. “Elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held after devastating floods. There is no reason to delay bye-elections”, he said, in an obvious reference to the 2014 assembly elections which were held after floods.
Notably, while announcing the schedule for the Delhi assembly elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar said that due to adverse weath What is the problem in holding elections on two vacant Assembly seats in J&K.
Elections in J&K were held after devastating floods. There is no reason to delay bye-elections.
I don’t know why they are depriving J&K people from raising their voice in the Rajya Sabha.
Time has come for J&K people to get representation in the Rajya Sabha.
“There are two constituencies in J&K which are due for elections—Budgam and Nagrota. Because of the snow conditions, we will do it later. We still have time till April, but before that, we will complete those elections,” he said.
Nagrota constituency in Jammu district became vacant following the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana.
In Budgam, the seat was vacated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who retained Ganderbal after contesting from both constituencies in the 2024 assembly elections.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah also questioned the inordinate delay in conducting elections for the four Rajya Sabha seats in J&K.
“I don’t know why they are depriving the people of Jammu and Kashmir that their voice should be raised in the Rajya. Time has come for people to represent the people of J&K in the Rajya Sabha”, he said, adding, “This is another factor. Where is the democracy, it pains us”. | 