Ishtiyaq Kar
Jammu, Feb 26: Preparations are underway for the highly anticipated Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which is set to begin on March 3, 2025.
The session will be inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Jammu, who is expected to address the members and present the government’s vision for the upcoming fiscal year.
According to officials, extensive arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the session.
Security measures have been heightened around the legislative complex, and essential infrastructure upgrades are being completed to accommodate the participants.
The session, which will include key financial discussions and deliberations on the budget, is expected to be crucial for the Union Territory.
The Budget Session comes at a time when the Jammu and Kashmir administration is focusing on infrastructural development, welfare programs, and policies aimed at boosting economic growth in the Union Territory.
Officials have also hinted that the budget will reflect a continued focus on key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and education.
With Jammu and Kashmir experiencing a shift in its political and developmental landscape, all eyes will be on the legislative proceedings, which are expected to set the tone for future governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
This marks the first budget presentation under the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government since it assumed power on October 16, 2024, bringing an end to six years of central rule.
However, a significant aspect of the session remains uncertain—the nomination of five non-elected members to the Assembly.
Despite the provision for these seats under the J&K Reorganisation Act, neither Raj Bhawan nor the state government has initiated the process of filling them.
The restructured J&K Legislative Assembly consists of 90 elected members, with the potential to expand to 95 when five nominated members are included.
The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, empowers the Lieutenant Governor to nominate two women to the Assembly if female representation is deemed insufficient. Additionally, a 2023 amendment allows for the nomination of three more members—two from the Kashmiri migrant community, including one woman, and one representing displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Despite this legal framework, the nomination process remains in limbo. Government insiders suggest that discussions on the matter have stalled, with no clear directive on whether the nominations should be made solely by the L-G or on the advice of the elected government.
Before the Assembly elections in October 2024, there was speculation that these five nominated members could play a crucial role in shaping the balance of power. However, with the National Conference securing a comfortable majority of 42 seats, supported by the Congress, the urgency around these nominations has diminished.
The first Assembly session in November last revolved around the demand for restoring J&K’s statehood.
