Center in preparation for talks with parties in Jammu and Kashmir

Today, sources told NDTV that the government may "start the process of dialogue with political parties and discuss elections in the state."

Ground Report | New Delhi: The Center may hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir early next year. For this, he is planning to start a series of political initiatives in the state. Under this, the center can also hold discussions with the mainstream political parties of the state. 

The Delimitation Commission, set up in February 2020 soon after Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill, may also expedite its work. The Delimitation Commission, headed by Justice (Retd) Ranjana Desai, is likely to submit its report. The commission has been given an extension of one year in the same year.

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According to officials, the central leadership may call National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Altaf Bukhari-led J&K Apni Party, and People's Conference's Sajjad Lone for discussion in the coming weeks, according to officials. There is a possibility that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may preside over the meeting. State units of BJP and Congress can also participate in this meeting.

Political process has stalled only after 2019

This entire exercise is being seen in conjunction with measures to restore democracy after the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August 2019 and bifurcation of Ladakh into a separate union territory. After this, except Bukhari, all other leaders were detained in August 2019.

Jammu and Kashmir were placed under President's rule in June 2018 after the BJP broke its alliance with Mehbooba Mufti. There has been no political process since then. In August 2019, the central government abolished the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two union territories.

There was a strong buzz about the start of the talks

Today, sources told NDTV that the government may "start the process of dialogue with political parties and discuss elections in the state."

It was expected that state elections would be held along with the general elections in 2019, but the Election Commission rejected it, citing an administrative report, which said that there is a security risk in holding the elections.

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Ahead of the District Development Council (DDC) elections last year, the NC and its arch-rival PDP, People's Conference, and six other parties had formed a coalition named People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). The BJP and JKAP had won 110 out of 280 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party by winning 75 seats while the NC won 67 seats.

The last elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014.

The last assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir in December 2014 and it used to be a state then. President's rule was imposed here in June 2018 after the coalition government of BJP and People's Democratic Party (PDP) collapsed.
In August 2019, the central government through a Presidential order abolished the special status of the state by amending Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

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