Srinagar: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah has asked Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha to refrain from nominating members from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the upcoming assembly.
Abdullah cautioned that such nominations could deepen tensions between the newly elected government and the Centre, potentially damaging the region’s “stability”.
Abdullah emphasised that any BJP nominations would compel the new government to seek recourse through the Supreme Court, further straining relations with Delhi from the outset. “We cannot afford contentious relations with the Centre,” he remarked, highlighting the necessity for cooperation to address the intricate challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir. “A fight over this issue would only complicate our interactions with the Centre,” he added.
“There would be a fight as we would then have to approach the Supreme Court and appeal against it,” Abdullah said.
The former chief minister pointed out that nominating BJP members would be a futile exercise, as it would not alter the party’s standing or ability to form a government in the union territory. “Nominating these five members won’t change the government; it merely adds to the opposition,” Abdullah stated, questioning the rationale behind such a move.
He further urged the LG to consult with the incoming government before making any nominations, suggesting that several independent candidates might align with the NC-Congress coalition post-election. The NC-Congress alliance has secured a total of 49 seats in the 90-member assembly, surpassing the simple majority mark of 46. In contrast, the BJP holds 29 seats.
The LG possesses the authority to nominate five additional members to the assembly, which would expand its total strength to 95 and raise the effective majority requirement to 48. This scenario could leave the new government precariously positioned, holding only one seat above the new majority threshold.
