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News18
27-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
J&K Assembly Bypolls, Local And Rajya Sabha Elections Remain On Hold Amid Security Concerns
Last Updated: Sources told News18 that the situation is likely to persist until security agencies give approval to the Election Commission for the polls following the Pahalgam terror attack Uncertainty continues over the assembly bypolls in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the pending local body and Rajya Sabha elections. The situation is likely to persist until security agencies give a go-ahead to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for holding polls, News18 has learnt. Local body elections—including municipal agencies, panchayats, and Block Development Councils (BDCs)—were expected around May, but plans changed following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mainly tourists from various parts of the country. The assembly bypolls and Rajya Sabha elections are also pending, but there is no timeline for when these will take place. The incident on April 22 significantly impacted the region's security situation and India's relationship with Pakistan. Security across the union territory of J&K has been heightened. Officially, the ECI has not cited reasons for the delays. However, sources told News18 that the situation is likely to persist until security agencies give approval to the Election Commission to conduct the polls. 'So far, elections were delayed because of Ramadan and Eid (in March). Before that, winter impacted the schedule. As soon as we get a go-ahead sign, we will hold these elections. The ECI is prepared to conduct them," a source said, requesting anonymity. Pending elections The term of the Block Development Councils (BDCs) in Jammu and Kashmir ended on January 9, 2024. Before that, between October and December 2023, the terms of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), and various municipal councils and committees also expired. The last time the panchayat and municipal polls were held was in 2018, while BDC elections took place in 2019. In September–October 2024, the J&K assembly held its first elections since 2019, when the state was converted into two union territories, the other one being Ladakh. The Nagrota and Budgam assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir have remained vacant since October 2024. Chief minister Omar Abdullah resigned from Budgam, as he was elected from two seats and had to vacate one. Days later, BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana died on October 31, leaving the Nagrota seat vacant. It was expected that the ECI would announce the bypolls along with those in other states across India, but that did not happen. The elections for the four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir have also been pending since February 2021 due to the absence of a sitting assembly. There were expectations that the elections would be held after the assembly formation, but parties are still awaiting it. It should be noted that Rajya Sabha elections do not involve participation of the general public. Political impact Two major regional parties—the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—have raised questions about the delay in holding elections. On Monday, after the ECI issued the schedule, ruling party MLA Tanvir Sadiq raised 'critical questions about why Jammu and Kashmir continues to be denied representation in the Rajya Sabha and why assembly by-polls to two seats are not being held", while speaking to the media. The PDP too 'expresses deep concern" over the 'continued delay" by the ECI in announcing by-elections for the vacant assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement, Dr Mehboob Beg, PDP's chief spokesperson, said, 'The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been patiently awaiting the restoration of their democratic rights. While the Election Commission has promptly announced by-elections in states like Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, and Punjab, the silence on Jammu and Kashmir raises troubling questions. This delay undermines the democratic aspirations of our people and risks further alienating them from the electoral process." Legal mandate Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, mandates the Election Commission to fill casual vacancies in the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures through byelections within six months from the date of the vacancy, provided that the remainder of the term of the member is one year or more. Elections may instead be scheduled for September or October, as was the case last year, or delayed further due to the severe winters that affect parts of the union territory after November. The elections for the Rajya Sabha are only expected after the bypolls for the assembly are completed. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 27, 2025, 19:07 IST News elections J&K Assembly Bypolls, Local And Rajya Sabha Elections Remain On Hold Amid Security Concerns
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
EC announces 5 Assembly bypolls in 4 states: What is at stake for key players
The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday announced Assembly elections for five seats in four states on June 19. The elections will be held in two seats in Gujarat and one each in Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal, and the votes will be counted on June 23. The EC did not announce bypolls for the Nagrota and Budgam Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, which have been vacant since October 2024. After he was elected from two seats on October 8, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned from one, Budgam, on October 21. The Nagrota seat fell vacant upon the death of MLA Devender Singh Rana on October 31. As per Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission is required to fill casual vacancies in Parliament and State Legislatures within six months. However, the EC, in consultation with the Central government, can go beyond this period if it is difficult to hold the by-election within the said period. According to EC sources, the commission had earlier certified that it would not be holding the by-elections in the UT within six months. While the cold weather and Ramzan and Eid were cited among reasons for not holding the bypolls in March and April, the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and the subsequent military conflict with Pakistan led to further delay. Here are the five seats where bypolls will be held: Ludhiana West (Punjab) This is a high-stakes battle for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as it comes close on the heels of its defeat in Delhi and on the back of a poor performance in the Ludhiana civic polls. In the civic body polls last year, the AAP managed to win only 41 of the 95 wards in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, falling short of the majority mark by seven, while the Congress and BJP won 30 and 18 seats respectively. Adding salt to the wounds was the defeat of the wives of AAP MLAs Ashok Parashar Pappi and Gurpreet Singh Gogi. The AAP has already announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as its candidate and hit the ground running, with its two senior most leaders, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, holding meetings and inaugurating a slew of projects. While the BJP is likely to announce its pick in the next few days, the Congress has fielded former Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which stayed away from the November 2024 bypolls in Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala, has picked newcomer Parupkar Singh Ghuman. The bypoll was necessitated after Gogi 'accidentally' shot himself to death in January. Nilambur (Kerala) The bypoll in this constituency in Wayanad was necessitated by the resignation of two-time Left Democratic Front (LDF)-backed Independent MLA P V Anvar after he fell out with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. This bypoll will be a litmus test for the ruling party as well as the Congress. For the CPI(M), the bypoll is a test ahead of next year's Assembly elections and is a chance to prove that Anvar's exit has not dented its prospects in the constituency. For the Congress, the bypoll is an opportunity to wrest back its traditional seat that is part of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency held by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The party lost Nilambur in 2016 as well as in 2021 to Anvar. It will also be the first electoral test of the newly appointed Congress state chief, Sunny Joseph For the BJP, which has a negligible presence in the constituency, the bypoll will be a test of the organisational skills and grassroots poll management of its new chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar. For Anvar, who is now in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and has extended support to the Congress-led United Democratic Front, a victory for the Congress will ensure his bargaining power stays intact. Kadi and Visavadar (Gujarat) The bypolls present an opportunity for the BJP to increase its tally in the Assembly and further dent the Congress, which has been out of power for three decades. For the Congress, which has chosen Gujarat to implement its pilot project of giving more powers to its district units, the bypoll is a chance at redemption. The Kadi bypoll was necessitated after the death of sitting BJP MLA Karsanbhai Solanki in February, while the resignation of sitting AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani necessitated the Visavadar by-election. Bhayani subsequently joined the BJP. For the AAP, which is seeking to expand its footprint in the state, the Visavadar bypoll is a prestige battle. The party has fielded firebrand leader Gopal Italia from the seat that was once represented by former CM Keshubhai Patel. Kaliaganj (West Bengal) The bypoll became necessary following the death of sitting TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed in February. It comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government is facing controversies linked to the Supreme Court's order upholding a Calcutta High Court order terminating the appointment of over 25,000 teachers, and the violence in Murshidabad. The party will be keen to replicate its success in last year's bypolls in which it swept all six seats at stake, including Madarihat that it won back from the BJP. (With inputs from ENS Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Ludhiana & Kolkata)
