SRINAGAR: The Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir is expected to nominate five Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) on October 8 (tommorrow), following the announcement of election results.
Highly placed sources have indicated that these nominations will include two women, one individual from the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) refugee community, and two Kashmiri Pandits.
This move has sparked significant opposition, particularly from the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance, which views these nominations as a way to influence the formation of the next government in the Union Territory. Congress party leaders have expressed concerns that the timing of these nominations could impact the final political landscape.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress Chief Tariq Hamid Karra was vocal in his opposition to the nominations, warning that they could distort the outcome of the elections. Karra said that such a step would amount to “rigging the poll results,” which he believes would violate democratic principles and undermine the will of the people.
“Any attempt to nominate MLAs by the LG, especially in this context, would defeat the mandate given by the people. It would be an undemocratic action, and we shall oppose it tooth and nail,” Karra said, stressing that the Congress will not allow the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to succeed in what he described as an attempt to manipulate the election results.
Karra expressed confidence that the Congress-NC coalition would emerge with a “comfortable majority” despite exit polls predicting a hung assembly. He insisted that the alliance is in a strong position and added that it remains open to collaborating with other like-minded parties to prevent the BJP from forming the government.
“The exit polls do not reflect the actual ground situation. The Congress-NC alliance is poised to win a clear majority, and we are prepared to work with others who share our vision for Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that the BJP does not come to power,” Karra stated.
Karra also pointed at the upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat elections, saying that these elections should be among the top priorities for the new government. However, he insisted that any decisions regarding these elections should be left to the newly elected representatives rather than being dictated by external forces.
During a recent meeting with Congress candidates, concerns were raised about the alleged bias of the police and administration in favor of BJP candidates during the campaigning period. A Congress spokesperson stated that many candidates voiced frustration over the administration’s failure to take action against what they described as electoral malpractice by the ruling party.
“The inaction of the police and administration during the campaign was a matter of great concern,” the spokesperson said, adding that the party will continue to watch the situation closely and will challenge any irregularities in the coming days.
As the results approach and the possible nominations by the LG loom, political tensions in Jammu and Kashmir are expected to escalate. (KDC)
