J&K political parties welcome announcement
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: The voting for assembly bypolls in eight constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan will be held on November 11, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday.
The counting of votes will be done on November 14.
“The assembly bypolls in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Punjab, Telangana and Rajasthan will be held on November 11; the counting of votes will be done on November 14,” Kumar said at a press conference here.
Two assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir — Budgam and Nagrota — have been vacant since October 2024.
Budgam was rendered vacant immediately after the 2024 assembly elections when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain the Ganderbal constituency. The seat has been vacant since October 21, 2024.
Nagrota, on the other hand, fell vacant on October 31, 2024, after the death of MLA Devender Singh Rana.
The bypoll in Rajasthan’s Anta was necessitated after BJP MLA Kanwarlal was disqualified in May after being convicted in a gun threat case.
In Telangana’s Jubilee Hill constituency, the bypoll was necessitated following the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June this year following a heart attack.
The Dampa assembly seat in Mizoram fell vacant after the death of incumbent MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.
The byelection to the Nuapada assembly constituency in Odisha was necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA Rajendra Dholakia on September 8 due to health-related issues.
In Jharkhand’s Ghatsila constituency, the bypoll is being held after the seat fell vacant following the death of Ramdas Soren.
The Tarn Taran assembly seat in Punjab also fell vacant after the death of Kashmir Singh Sohal.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir’s political parties including the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition BJP welcomed the Election Commission of India announcing the schedule for bypolls to Budgam and Nagrota assembly seats.
National Conference spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said although delayed, the ECI’s decision to hold byelections for the two seats in the Union Territory was welcome.
“We have been seeking a bypoll for the vacant seats as soon as (Chief Minister) Omar Abdullah vacated the Budgam seat. Finally, the people of the Budgam segment will have their representative in the Assembly,” Sadiq told PTI.
Sadiq said the parliamentary board of the party will take the final decision on the candidates. “As of now, we are contesting both seats,” he added.
The opposition BJP and the PDP also welcomed the bypoll schedule for Budgam and Nagrota seats.
“We welcome the decision to hold bypolls as it is part of the democratic process,” BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said.
Asked about the one-year delay in holding bypolls to these seats, Thakur said the Election Commission is an autonomous body and political parties cannot impose themselves on it.
“Only the Election Commission knows why the polls were delayed. As political parties, we follow its decisions,” he added.
Asked if the party will contest both seats, Thakur said BJP leaders Sat Sharma and Ashok Koul have been called to Delhi. “BJP is always ready for elections. I think it will be clear in a day or two who will be our candidates,” he said.
PDP spokesman Mohit Bhan, while welcoming the decision, said the lack of representation in the Assembly had cost Budgam in terms of development.
“Better late than never… It is the right of the people to have an elected representative who will speak for them on issues like development,” he said.
Bhan said the political affairs committee of the party will decide whether the party will contest both seats.
“We have done well in the last elections in Budgam and we will be contesting from there. As for Nagrota seats, a decision will be taken in due course,” he added.
Budgam and Nagrota have been vacant since October 2024.
Budgam fell vacant immediately after the 2024 assembly elections when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chose to retain the Ganderbal constituency.
The seat has been vacant since October 21, 2024.
Nagrota, on the other hand, fell vacant on October 31, 2024, after the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana.