Union Home Minister Amit Shah made it clear in Parliament on Wednesday that when the assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir. During the discussion in the Lok Sabha, some members had expressed concern over the delay in the assembly elections in Kashmir. President’s rule is in force in Jammu and Kashmir since June 2018. The BJP then withdrew support to the coalition government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Amit Shah on Wednesday said that after the completion of the delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir and after consultation with political parties, assembly elections will be held. Responding to the discussion, Shah said that what he had said in Parliament at the time of abrogation of Article 370 is in front of everyone and is on record.
Shah said that he had clearly said that first Panchayat elections would be held in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by delimitation exercise and after completion of this process, assembly elections would be held and full statehood of Jammu and Kashmir would be restored. “Panchayat elections were conducted without violence. District Panchayat elections are over. The process of delimitation is nearing completion. I would like to reiterate this once again that after the completion of the delimitation, we will hold elections in consultation with the political parties.
President’s rule is in force in Jammu and Kashmir since June 2018. The BJP then withdrew support to the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. In August 2019, the Modi government divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories. Jammu and Kashmir is now a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly.