JAMMU, Feb 22: Amid reports of stormy budget session with Kashmir-centric parties like PDP, People’s Conference and Awami Ittehad Party trying to rake up sensitive issues, likely to be countered effectively by the BJP, Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has convened a meeting of major political parties having representation in the House on February 27 to ensure smooth budget session, starting March 3.The senior leaders of different political parties, who have been invited to the meeting by the Speaker in his jammu office at 11 AM on February 27, include Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and Surjeet Singh Slathia (both BJP), Ali Mohammad Sagar and Mubarak Gul (both from National Conference), Ghulam Ahmed Mir, former PCC -I chief (Congress), Waheed ur Rehman Para (PDP), Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (CPM), Sajjad Gani Lone (People’s Conference) and Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, an Independent MLA from Thannamandi who has been supporting the National Conference.
The meeting has representatives from all political parties excepting AIP which has one MLA in the Legislature. The AIP has one MLA. CPM and People’s Conference have also one MLA each in the Assembly.
There have been reports that Mehbooba Mufti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which has three MLAs in the Assembly, the People’s Conference of Sajjad Gani Lone and jailed Engineer Rashid’s AIP, are likely to rake up certain controversial issues in the budget session which will be strongly opposed by 28-member strong BJP, leading to pandemonium and disruption of the House proceedings.
The Speaker is expected to brief the meeting about arrangements made for the budget session and seek their cooperation for ensuring that the Legislature functions normally and transacts maximum business.
The Legislative Assembly will function as per amended rules in which references to Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, Governor, Legislative Council and Joint Select Committee have been deleted.
“The Speaker is expected to seek suggestions from party leaders and chief whips, who have been called to the meeting, for smooth running of budget session of the House,” the sources said.
Congress with six MLAs had pre-poll alliance with the National Conference but hasn’t joined the Government. NC is the single largest party with 41 MLAs and besides support of the Congress it also has the backing of lone MLA of CPM and four Independent legislators taking its strength to 52 in the House of 90 with two vacancies.
Sources said the National Conference is unlikely to find any problem in getting its legislative or other business through as it enjoys comfortable majority with the help of allies. The BJP which won 29 seats in September-October 2024 Assembly elections has been reduced to 28 MLAs with the death of party stalwart and MLA Nagrota Devender Singh Rana.
First session of the Government from November 4-8 last year had also turned out to be stormy with the BJP legislators repeatedly marshaled out of the House in protest again resolution seeking Constitutional guarantees etc. The brief session of five days in November was held in Srinagar.
The 40 days long budget session with 22 sittings is being held in Jammu from March 3 to April 11.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds charge of the Finance Department, will present his maiden budget on March 7. The budget has been listed for the Assembly approval on March 25.
The session will start on March 3 with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address to the Legislature. This will be the LG’s second address to the House, the first being on November 4.
