Srinagar, Jul 10 (KNO): Jammu & Kashmir has been without representation in the Rajya Sabha for over four and a half years, with all four of its seats currently lying vacant.
According to details accessed by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), J&K has been without any member in Rajya Sabha, in its own quota, since February 15, 2021 when former MPs Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmad Laway completed their terms.
Just days prior, on February 10, 2021, the six-year terms of Mir Muhammad Fayaz and Shamsher Singh Manhas also came to end. Since then, Jammu & Kashmir has remained unrepresented in the Upper House of Parliament.
The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the schedule for filling these berths, even though the electoral college for them has been in place since October 8, 2014, the day when results of J&K Assembly polls were declared. The elected MLAs of the Union Territory constitute the Electoral College for the Rajya Sabha seats.
The Election Commission of India is yet to indicate any timeline for holding RS polls.
Sources, however, disclosed that there is a possibility that RS polls could be held after by-elections for Nagrota and Budgam seats take place.
In 90s, a similar situation had also arisen when J&K Assembly polls couldn’t be conducted due to a volatile security situation.
Between 1994 and 1996, all four Rajya Sabha seats allotted to the then-state of Jammu & Kashmir remained vacant. The members elected in 1988 completed their six-year terms, but new RS members could not be elected due to the absence of a functioning Legislative Assembly.
It is worth to mention here that Ghulam Ali Khatana, a resident of Jammu, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 by the President of India. His nomination was not from Jammu & Kashmir’s allotted share in the Rajya Sabha, but under the nominated quota—(KNO)