Omar Abdullah and the other political parties were demanding an election in Jammu and Kashmir. Finally, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections are happening after almost 10 years. the political parties were demanding the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Especially the National Conference and PDP wants it to be fair this time. The political parties released their manifesto after the election date was decided.
JKNC has said that if they come to power, the biggest thing they will do is to start the India-Pakistan dialogue. And restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370.
REVOCATION OF ARTICLE 370
In 2018, there was an alliance between the BJP and PDP. The BJP withdrew its support in June 2018, and later on, Jammu and Kashmir were under the President’s rule.
On August 5, 2019 Article 370 was abrogated. Earlier Jammu and Kashmir was a part of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh. Then both became union territories. but Ladakh doesn’t have an assembly, and there is an assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
DDC ELECTIONS
Finally, in 2020, Manoj Sinha was sent to Jammu and Kashmir as Lieutenant Governor.
The District Development Council (DDC), which is the local governance, elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir, the victory it was of an alliance formed by the PDP, NC, and All these parties, the Alliance won 110 seats, and the BJP had emerged as the single largest party and won 75 seats.
DELIMITATION
A lot of protests and demands were made to get statehood and assembly elections. As a result of which A Delimitation Commission was set up in 2020.
Again, the demand was being raised that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should held, and finally, the Delimitation Commission released its report on May 5, 2022.
In the report, it was said that the total seats in the Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir will be 114, out of which 24 seats were reserved for POK, 43 seats are for Jammu, and 47 seats are for Kashmir Division.
RESERVATIONS FOR SC & ST
After Article 370 abrogation, Parliament got the power to apply the reservation there; hence, 7 seats were reserved for SC and 9 seats for ST.
SUPREME COURT DEADLINE FOR POLLS
When the matter went to the Supreme Court, and many parties said that Article 370 was removed unconstitutionally, the Supreme Court on December 11, 2023, stated that there was no problem with it and gave a deadline to the Election Commission to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30.
RESTORATION OF STATEHOOD
The Supreme Court had also stated that after the elections, efforts should be made as soon as possible to give Jammu and Kashmir the status of a full state.
JKNC MANIFESTO
Farooq Abdullah’s party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), has released its manifesto.
Omar Abdullah said that
- They will struggle to restore Articles 370 and 35A.
- They will get the political prisoners released. Many of the leaders of Jamaat Islami wanted to contest the elections. But the government of India is still keeping them in jail so that they too can contest the elections.
- There is an Act called the Public Safety Act under which preventive detention is done several times; that is, even before someone has committed a crime, they are detained again and again, hence the National Conference will try to remove it.
- Omar Abdullah talked about Kashmiri Pandit’s return and rehabilitation, and then we will do all those things in a dignified manner.
FREEBIES
- 12 free gas cylinders will be given to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
- 200 units of free electricity.
- free education up to university, and Rs 1 lakh.
- Jobs have been announced.
- the quota of rice available will be increased, and things have also been said regarding the overall economic development.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
Omar Abdullah said that if he comes to power in Jammu and Kashmir, he will try to anchor the dialogue.
The regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir, like the PDP and the National Conference, repeatedly say that India should talk to Pakistan, no solution can be found without dialogue.
The central government has clearly said that until Pakistan stops terrorism and stops sending terrorists to India, India will not talk to Pakistan.
