All set for fiery autumn

Srinagar, Oct 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is set to convene its Autumn Session in Srinagar on Thursday.

This nine-day session, concluding on October 31, is expected to be a stormy affair, with intense legislative activity, political scrutiny, and high-stakes debates.

The session will open with obituary references to pay homage to former legislators from J&K who recently passed away.

October 24 and 25 are non-working days due to the Rajya Sabha elections and a weekend holiday, with six working days scheduled for legislative business.

The government plans to introduce key bills, including amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, amendments to the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, and the new Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Business Establishment Bill, 2025.

Alongside government business, members have submitted 450 questions, 13 private members’ bills, and 55 private members’ resolutions.

Thirty-three private members’ bills carried over from the previous session are also due for consideration, particularly on October 28, designated as private members’ day.

The House will also try to decide the fate of nearly three dozen bills introduced during the Budget session but still pending.

A major highlight of the session is the election of four Rajya Sabha members from J&K on Friday.

These seats have been vacant since 2021 due to delayed Assembly elections.

Three candidates from the ruling National Conference (NC) are expected to win easily, while the fourth seat is set for a close contest between BJP veteran Sat Pal Sharma and young NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar.

Dar will require support not only from his party but also from opposition members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Conference (PC), Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The opposition is expected to mount vigorous challenges against the NC-led government, particularly on issues like the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, rationalisation of the existing reservation quota policy, and regularisation of thousands of daily wage workers in J&K.

With the government having completed one year in office last week, opposition members are also likely to hold it accountable for unfulfilled promises made in its Assembly election manifesto.

Public concerns over jobs, electricity supply, investments, and governance would form major points of contention during the debates.

Security measures have been tightened for the session. The Business Advisory Committee has already been constituted and is finalising time allocation for discussions, and political parties are preparing for intense debates and possible protests both inside and outside the Assembly. With a packed legislative agenda, high-profile Rajya Sabha elections, ongoing scrutiny from opposition parties, and debates over statehood, reservation, and workers’ rights, the autumn session of the J&K Legislative Assembly is shaping up to be a decisive test for the NC-led government.