Kashmir has witnessed the end of a long turbulent period following the withdrawal of Article 370 in August 2019, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s said in his interaction with journalists on Sunday. Significantly, the LG added for good measure that the decision on assembly elections rests with the Election Commission of India, following the completion of the delimitation process and electoral roll revisions. This is after a long time that a top government functionary has referred to long delayed Assembly polls in the UT.
J&K has not had an elected government since June 2018 when Governor’s rule was imposed after the PDP-led coalition government lost its majority following the withdrawal of support by the BJP. Subsequently, on August 5, 2019, New Delhi abrogated Article 370 that granted J&K special status under India’s constitution. Since then the Lieutenant Governor has taken over from Governor.
However, both the central and the UT governments have exhibited little urgency to hold Assembly elections. This despite the fact that the situation has visibly improved in the region. The militancy has progressively reduced over the last four years. This is borne out strikingly by the drastic drop in the number of militants and also the disappearance of unrest and stone throwing. And by that yardstick this is the most conducive atmosphere imaginable for a free and fair electoral exercise.
But there are no signs that Jammu and Kashmir is going to witness Assembly elections anytime soon. This too when the country is holding parliamentary polls next year. The former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had urged the election commission to hold Assembly polls simultaneously with general elections. However, there has so far been no response from either the commission or the central government. There is still some time left, giving people a reason to hope that the Assembly polls might be held. Around nine Assembly elections are due to be held across the country over the course of next nine months. And their outcome would be of a momentous significance for the country.
That said, J&K administration is gung-ho about peace holding in Kashmiri from hereon. The LG Sinha said they have a roadmap for the union territory for the next 25 years stating that the conflict entrepreneurs were not happy with the situation in valley post abrogation of Article 370. He also revealed that in first seven months 1.27 crore tourists have already visited the region. This shows that the situation is headed in the right direction. But it is time, the prevailing peace is topped up with restoration of democracy.
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