Srinagar, Oct 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s autumn session, beginning tomorrow, is expected to witness heated exchanges as the opposition prepares to corner the ruling National Conference (NC)-led government over unfulfilled election promises, governance lapses, and reservation-related issues.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would hold the government accountable for “betraying electoral promises.” “The government has failed to deliver on its commitments—be it 200 units of free electricity, 12 LPG cylinders per household, or job creation for the youth,” Sharma said, accusing the NC of misleading voters.
The BJP, he added, will demand an explanation for the government’s failure to create the one lakh jobs promised during the election campaign.
Smaller Kashmir-based opposition parties, including the PDP, People’s Conference (PC), and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), are also expected to raise issues of statehood, reservation rationalisation, and regional imbalances. The Assembly Secretariat has, however, disallowed a resolution by PC president Sajad Gani Lone seeking the restoration of statehood, citing that the matter is sub judice.
Meanwhile, the government is set to introduce three key bills during the session — amendments to the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and the new Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Business Establishment Bill, 2025.
According to Assembly officials, the Secretariat has received 450 questions, 13 private members’ bills, and 55 resolutions for the session. Thirty-three private bills pending from the previous session will be taken up on October 28, the day reserved for private members’ business.
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will meet later today under the chairmanship of the Speaker to finalise the schedule and time allocation for discussions. The BAC determines the duration for debates on bills and other legislative matters in consultation with the Leader of the House. (KNO)
