Srinagar: The upcoming autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, beginning tomorrow, is expected to be stormy as opposition parties prepare to confront the National Conference (NC)-led government over a range of contentious issues. Key topics likely to dominate the session include governance, unfulfilled election promises, the demand for statehood, and reservation policies.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would hold the government accountable for what he termed a “betrayal of electoral promises.” “The NC-led government has failed to deliver on its commitments—be it 200 free units of electricity, 12 LPG cylinders per household, or other assurances made to the people during the elections,” Sharma said.
He further added that the BJP will press the government on unemployment and its failure to create job opportunities for the youth. “The government promised to generate one lakh jobs, but nothing has been done. We will demand answers on what steps they have taken for the youth over the past year,” he said.
Smaller Kashmir-based opposition parties such as the PDP, Peoples Conference (PC), and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) are also expected to raise their voices on statehood restoration, reservation rationalisation, and other regional issues.
Meanwhile, the Assembly Secretariat has disallowed a resolution by Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone seeking the restoration of statehood, citing that the matter is sub judice.
The government is set to introduce three key bills during the session: amendments to the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Goods & Services Tax Act, 2017, and the introduction of the Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Business Establishment Bill, 2025.
According to officials, the Legislative Assembly Secretariat has received 450 questions, 13 private members’ bills, and 55 private members’ resolutions for the session. Additionally, 33 private members’ bills pending from the previous session will be taken up on October 28, designated for private members’ business.
In the lead-up to the session, the Business Advisory Committee will meet in the Speaker’s office at 3:00 PM today to finalise the allocation of time for legislative business. The Committee will recommend how much time should be devoted to discussions on government bills and other matters, in consultation with the Speaker and the Leader of the House.
