Image showing the Rajya Sabha in session. For representational purposes.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Srinagar: As the country prepares for a fresh Vice Presidential election following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on Monday, Jammu and Kashmir will again find itself with only a limited say in the democratic process.
With all four of its Rajya Sabha seats lying vacant since 2021, the Union Territory will be represented solely by its five Lok Sabha MPs when the vote takes place.
The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college comprising members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. While J&K’s Lok Sabha members will cast their votes, the UT will have no participation in the Upper House quota due to the prolonged absence of its Rajya Sabha representatives.
This void stems from a constitutional technicality — and a political delay. The term of the last Rajya Sabha MPs from J&K ended in February 2021. As per constitutional provisions, members of the Rajya Sabha are elected by the legislative assemblies of states and Union Territories. But J&K has not had an active legislative assembly since June 2018, when it was placed under President’s Rule following the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government.
Although assembly elections were finally held in September 2024 — over six years later — and a representative government is now in place, the Election Commission of India has not yet initiated the process to fill the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats allocated to the UT.
This delay has triggered questions over the erosion of democratic participation from Jammu and Kashmir in critical constitutional processes. “We have had a functioning assembly for the last nine months, and yet, there’s no movement on holding Rajya Sabha elections. It’s not just about representation — it’s about our presence in the nation’s legislative affairs,” said a ruling National
The Vice President of India also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The absence of J&K’s voice in the Rajya Sabha has already had implications in recent years, especially during debates and votes on key national issues where full federal participation was expected.