Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 | Political slugfest over L-G's power to nominate five MLAs

Srinagar: With results of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election set to come out on Tuesday (October 8), opposition parties are raising alarms over Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s authority to nominate five legislators to the 90-member Assembly of the Union Territory (UT).

With many exit polls suggesting a hung Assembly, possibly favoring the National Conference-Congress alliance, these nominated members could play a pivotal role in government formation.

Sources said the L-G's nominations will likely be guided by the Union Home Ministry, but it remains uncertain if these members will possess voting rights. If appointed prior to government formation, the Assembly's total strength would rise to 95, increasing the majority threshold to 48 seats.

The Congress party has accused the BJP of attempting to undermine the electoral outcome through what they describe as a “malicious exercise of power.”

In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Facing imminent defeat, the BJP is playing desperate games to engineer a majority and hoping for a hung assembly to aid them in their subterfuge.”
“They know that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a clear mandate to the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance,” he said.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal echoed his views, claiming the alliance is on the verge of a historic victory, while accusing the BJP of trying to subvert the democratic process.

“We are vigilant to all their dirty tricks and will not let them hijack our democracy. The misuse of institutions and the Centre’s powers to alter the mandate will not be tolerated,” Venugopal warned in a post on X.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of People’s Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said giving power to the LG to nominate five members to the assembly was a “brazen pre-result rigging” of the polls.

“All of the five MLAs nominated by LG are BJP members or associated with the party. Brazen pre result rigging & shameful manipulation,” Iltija posted on X.

National Conference leader Rattan Lal Gupta condemned the move as unconstitutional and undemocratic, arguing that such powers should only reside with an elected government.

The J&K Reorganisation Act of 2019 allows the L-G to nominate two members to ensure adequate female representation, a provision amended in 2023 to permit three additional nominations.

Assembly Elections 2024 | In the first assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP face a rejuvenated and vindicated Opposition in the Haryana assembly polls. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is voting after almost a decade and it remains to be seen how the abrogation of Article 370 has impacted the political landscape of the Valley. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.