NC, PDP unite in criticism, accusing BJP, ECI of sidelining the region amid rising insecurity
Vikram Sharma
JAMMU: Uncertainty continues to overshadow the holding of elections for the vacant Rajya Sabha seats and by-elections for two Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, despite the Election Commission of India (ECI) having gone through much of the preparatory process, including revising electoral rolls and enabling eligible voters to register.
However, the process appears to have stalled—likely in response to the recent terrorist attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, which has diverted the government’s attention and raised security concerns.
The delay has sparked criticism from both the ruling party, the National Conference (NC), and the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Unusually, the two rival parties have found common ground in accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ECI of negligence and deliberate marginalisation of the region’s democratic processes.
Tanvir Sadiq, NC spokesperson and MLA, has voiced alarm over the continued lack of representation for Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha. He pointed out that four seats allocated to the region have remained unfilled for over seven months, making Jammu and Kashmir possibly the only region in India without any representation in the Upper House of Parliament.
“We want to know why the Election Commission has delayed these elections,” he said. “This speaks volumes about the continued political marginalisation of our region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.”
Sadiq also expressed frustration over the delay in conducting by-elections for the Budgam and Nagrota Assembly constituencies. “Despite notifications for bypolls being issued in other states, Jammu and Kashmir continues to be left out,” he said.
“We demand an explanation from both the Government of India and the Election Commission. Why are we being treated differently?”
Echoing these sentiments, Mehboob Beg, Chief Spokesperson of the PDP, criticised the ECI’s silence over the matter, even as polling dates for other states have already been announced for June 2025.
“By-elections have been scheduled in states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab. Yet there is no word on Jammu and Kashmir. This selective inaction undermines the democratic aspirations of the people and risks alienating them further from the electoral process,” said Beg.
He stressed that the Union Territory has already gone too long without a functioning elected government. “Delaying these by-elections only deepens the political vacuum,” Beg warned. “The people deserve transparency. If there are security or logistical concerns, the Election Commission should make them public. Keeping people in the dark is unacceptable.”
The vacant Nagrota seat was left open after the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana, while the Budgam seat became vacant following the resignation of Omar Abdullah.
As per constitutional rules, by-elections are supposed to be held within six months of a seat falling vacant, a deadline that has already lapsed.
In the initial months following these vacancies, the Election Commission had taken steps to move the process forward. Electoral rolls for both constituencies were updated, and eligible voters were allowed to register.
Political activity began picking up, with parties like the BJP, National Conference, Congress, and Panthers Party starting to mobilize their cadres and prepare for campaigns. District Election Officers even held preliminary meetings with local party leaders to coordinate election-related logistics.
However, the terror attack in Pahalgam appears to have caused a reassessment of the security situation. While no official statement has been issued, sources suggest that the Election Commission no longer considers the current environment in Jammu and Kashmir conducive to holding elections.
The silence and delay have left many in the region feeling politically sidelined. With major political parties uniting in their demand for democratic due process and regional representation, pressure is mounting on the Election Commission and the Centre to clarify their stance and restore faith in the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir. Until then, uncertainty continues to prevail, deepening the region’s sense of political isolation.
