Srinagar: The stage is set for the first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, with the National Conference (NC) senior leader Abdul Rahim Rather poised to be elected as the new Speaker.
The session, scheduled for Monday, marks a significant step in the Union Territory’s political journey since the controversial abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.
The NC-led ruling alliance has formally initiated the process of electing Rather, a seven-time MLA, to the Speaker’s chair. The move, signalled by a written notice submitted by the Minister for Rural Development Department and Panchayat Raj, Javaid Ahmad Dar to the Assembly secretariat, comes as the NC-Congress coalition gears up to address critical issues in the upcoming session.
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As the NC legislature party chairman, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah convened a meeting of the coalition’s legislators on Sunday evening to strategise for the session. The agenda is likely to be dominated by the contentious issue of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a key promise made by the NC in its election manifesto.
While the NC has already passed a resolution urging the central government to reinstate statehood, the upcoming session is anticipated to see the ruling party reaffirm its stance. This could potentially ignite a heated debate with the BJP, which holds 29 seats in the Assembly, and is expected to fiercely oppose any move towards restoring statehood.
Adding to the complexity of the session is the absence of the Legislative Council (Upper House), which existed prior to the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir.
The session will take place under heightened security measures in the assembly complex in Srinagar, a reflection of the current security climate in the region after the recent terror activities in the Srinagar city.
