Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Wednesday welcomed the Election Commission’s announcement to hold elections for four vacant Rajya Sabha seats from the Union Territory, calling it a “delayed but correct” decision.
The Election Commission (EC) earlier announced that the biennial elections to fill the four seats, vacant since 2021, will be held on October 24.
“Today, the Election Commission of India has announced elections for four Rajya Sabha seats that have remained vacant until now. It is the right decision, though a delayed one. We welcome it,” Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma told reporters here.
He noted that assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held a year ago and the electoral college was already in place, yet the UT remained unrepresented in the Rajya Sabha for over a year. “Dair aayah, durust aayah (better late than never),” he added.
Sharma said the party leadership would soon meet to discuss the matter. “We will take the right decision in consultation with our central leadership,” he stated.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, four members of the Rajya Sabha are to represent the UT. However, the seats remained vacant after the previous members’ terms ended due to the absence of the required electorate at that time.
With the formation of the J-K Legislative Assembly, the electorate is now in place to conduct the biennial elections, the EC said. The counting of votes will take place on October 24, an hour after polling concludes.
