National Conference MP Ruhullah Mehdi wants early Assembly elections in JK
New Delhi, July 29
National Conference MP Ruhullah Mehdi on Monday raised the demand for holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
The Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission to conduct election in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30. The poll panel is yet to announce a schedule for the election.
Participating in a debate on the Union budget in the Lok Sabha, Mehdi said only a month was left and no process had been started to conduct the election.
“I have not come here to beg for election hellip; The Supreme Court had given directions to this government that a democratic government be formed by September hellip; Just one month is left and no process for the election has been started yet,” the Srinagar MP said.
“I request you that for the spirit of democracy, give them directions that the Supreme Court’s order is followed and election is conducted,” he added.
Last December, the Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and directed the restoration of statehood “at the earliest”.
Assembly election should be held by September 30, 2024, it had said.
Announcing the schedule for the Lok Sabha election in March, the Election Commission had said holding assembly and parliamentary elections simultaneously in Jammu and Kashmir was not practical due to logistical and security reasons.
Whenever assembly election is held in Jammu and Kashmir, it will be the first since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
