Wordy duel between BJP, other parties

Jammu, Oct 7: On the eve of the vote count, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and major opposition political parties remained engaged in a wordy duel about the nomination of 5 MLAs by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to the J&K Legislative Assembly.

Officially, the names of nominated MLAs were not announced so far yet opposition parties, mainly Congress kept flexing muscles, though verbally,  warning against any such move before the formation of government. “Members should be nominated on the aid and advice of the elected government, which comes to power. The Lieutenant Governor using his power to nominate MLAs will be unconstitutional and undemocratic. It will be opposed tooth and nail by Congress-National Conference combine,” was the assertion of JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra and other Congress leaders.

Rejoinder came from J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina, who while speaking to media persons, said, “As far as the issue of nominated MLAs is concerned, that will be done as per constitutional norms. The nomination will be made as per law of the land passed by the Parliament, following constitutional procedure; it will be as per rules laid down in J&K Reorganisation Act.”

Responding to a query about Congress and other opposition parties reacting very strongly against the nomination by the Lieutenant Governor and vowing to oppose any such move robustly, Raina said, “Probably Congress and other opposition parties apprehend drubbing at the hustings, losing even security deposits. Congress knows that it is fast losing its political support base in J&K and that is why it is resorting to propaganda, conspiracy and rumour-mongering, as per its old habits.”

“Five nominated MLAs will be there strictly in accordance with the constitutional practices. I have a question – Why was Congress sleeping when this amendment (J&K Reorganisation Act) was moved and passed in both the Houses of Parliament? Why did they not take part in the discussion there? Now when it has already become a law, Congress has suddenly woken up during elections and is perturbed. Why is Congress flabbergasted now?” Raina asked while referring to Section 15 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

The verbal duel further intensified when media reports started circulating five names of BJP leaders. As per media reports, their names were cleared as nominated MLAs.

Later in the afternoon, Congress on its official media group posted a video wherein BJP’s senior leader Sofi Yousuf was shown mentioning those names. “BJP leader (Sofi) is claiming that all 5 MLAs to be nominated by LG will be BJP leaders. He even names them. Open misuse of the institution and the Centre’s power to alter the mandate,” Congress posted in the group.

However, J&K BJP Chief Spokesperson Sunil Sethi, whose name was among five ‘nominated MLAs’, being circulated in media reports, set the record straight, stating that all such reports were baseless.

“I don't know from where it has gone to the media. It is purely speculative. There is nothing of that nature which has been officially informed to me or even considered,” Sethi said while responding to Greater Kashmir queries.

“Please understand, neither Sofi Yusuf is the official spokesperson of the party nor he has the authority to make an official statement. He must be reacting to what is being reported and has been reported in the media since morning,” he said when his attention was sought towards a video of Sofi Yousuf, posted by Congress.

“What is coming in the media is without any base. There is no basis for the media to quote the names. Nothing of this nature has happened so far. I don't know where these names have come from. There is no official statement from the party about the names. This news is not authentic to our information and to our understanding,” Sethi said.

Nominated MLAs will represent women (2), Kashmiri migrants (2 including one woman) and PoJK refugees (1), will enjoy the same powers as that of elected MLAs.

On the counting front, all arrangements were put in place by the election authorities in sync with district and police authorities.

Detailing about counting arrangements, the District Election Officer (DEO) Jammu stated that the counting for six assembly segments, out of a total of 11, would take place at Government Polytechnic College and counting for the rest of the five segments will occur at M A M College. 3-layer security will be there. Prohibitory measures too have been taken as per Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,” DEO Jammu said.

Meanwhile, the day also saw BJP leaders huddled in twin meetings just ahead of vote count.

“During the Election Management Committee meeting, where the BJP core group members also participated, feedback was received regarding campaigning. Besides, party's counting agents were geared up with the direction to remain extra cautious during counting particularly in those seven to eight seats where the party was engaged in neck and neck race with its contenders,” party sources informed.

Assembly elections, held after ten years, were conducted in three phases i.e., on September 18, 25 and October 1.

J&K recorded an overall voter turnout of 63.88 percent in the 2024 assembly elections, slightly lower than the 2014 assembly elections yet higher than the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.