Speaker admits PDP resolution seeking one-time power dues waiver
Srinagar, Oct 21: Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Tuesday admitted a private member’s resolution moved by a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator seeking a one-time exemption on outstanding electricity dues for consumers.
The resolution, submitted by PDP MLA from Kupwara, Mir Muhammad Fayaz, will now proceed to the next stage and be subjected to the ballot procedure in the forthcoming assembly session.
The proposal seeks to grant relief to households burdened by increasing power tariffs and recurrent billing disputes, recommending a one-time waiver of all outstanding electricity arrears.
Under the rules governing the Legislative Assembly, the admitted resolution will be placed in a ballot to determine whether it will be included in the official calendar of business for voting.
The ballot outcome would decide if the House takes up the resolution for adoption or rejection.
Following the 2024 assembly polls, the 90-member J&K Legislative Assembly comprises 42 members from the National Conference (NC), 29 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), six from the Congress, three from the PDP, one each from the CPI (M), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), People’s Conference (PC), and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), besides independents.
The Congress has extended outside support to the Omar Abdullah-led NC government without formally joining it.
Among the 90 assembly constituencies, two seats – Budgam in Kashmir and Nagrota in Jammu division are currently vacant.
The Budgam seat became vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned from it, choosing instead to retain his Ganderbal seat.
He had contested and won from both constituencies in the 2024 polls.
The Nagrota seat, won by BJP’s Devender Singh Rana in the 2024 elections, fell vacant following his demise on October 31, 2024.
The BJP has nominated Rana’s daughter, Devyani, as its candidate for the upcoming by-election.
The NC has fielded former minister Aga Syed Mehmood for the Budgam by-poll and Shamim Begum for the Nagrota seat.
The Election Commission of India has announced that polling for both Budgam and Nagrota assembly constituencies will be held on November 11.
