Abdul Rahim Rather, a senior leader of the National Conference (NC) and a seven-time MLA, was elected as the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday.
Pro-tem Speaker Mubarak Gul announced Rather’s election, confirming that the assembly chose him unanimously.
The assembly session also saw a significant moment when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed ur Rehman Parra introduced a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370, which previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
This move highlights the ongoing political discourse surrounding the region’s autonomy.
The National Conference has been vocal about its intentions regarding Article 370, with party spokesman and MLA Tanvir Sadiq indicating that the NC plans to introduce a resolution advocating for the restoration of the article during this assembly session.
While the Congress party has expressed its commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, it appears that its MLAs may refrain from supporting the resolution aimed at reinstating Article 370.
For the NC, the restoration of both statehood and Article 370 forms a core part of its electoral strategy.
Although any resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly regarding Article 370 would not alter the Indian Parliament’s authority over the issue, the NC aims to exert pressure on the central government and reassure its voter base of its commitment to its electoral promises.
The legislative assembly session commenced with an address from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, setting the stage for discussions on pressing regional matters.
The NC reached a consensus to nominate Abdul Rahim Rather for the Speaker’s position, reflecting the party’s unified front.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Sunil Sharma, MLA from the Padder-Nagseni constituency in Kishtwar, as the Leader of the Opposition, with Narinder Singh nominated for the Deputy Speaker role.
Current Composition Of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly
Currently, the composition of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly includes:
- 42 seats for the NC,
- 28 for the BJP (with one vacancy following the death of MLA Devender Singh Rana),
- 6 for Congress,
- 3 for PDP, and
- Smaller representations from CPI (M),
- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Peoples Conference (PC), and
- Independents
This diverse assembly will be pivotal in shaping the political landscape of the region in the coming days.
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