Srinagar, Oct 22: The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, scheduled to begin on Thursday, is expected to be contentious, with issues like statehood, reservation policy, and regularisation of thousands of daily wage workers set to dominate proceedings. The nine-day session will commence with the House paying tribute to former legislators of Jammu and Kashmir who recently passed away.
On Friday, the Assembly will elect four Rajya Sabha members. While three candidates from the ruling National Conference (NC) are expected to sail through, the fourth seat is likely to witness a tight contest between BJP veteran Sat Pal Sharma and young NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar. Dar will require support not only from his party but also from opposition parties including PDP, Awami Ittehad Party, and AAP. The decision of People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone to abstain from voting is seen as advantageous to the BJP.
The real political heat is expected from Monday onwards, as opposition parties aim to corner the ruling NC on issues such as the restoration of statehood and rationalisation of reservation quotas. With the government completing one year in office, the opposition is also likely to question the ruling party on promises made in its election manifesto.
Officials said 450 questions have been submitted for the government, alongside 13 private members’ bills and over 50 resolutions for discussion. The House will also deliberate on nearly three dozen bills introduced in the Budget session that remain pending. (Agencies)
