Amit Shah to meet Jammu and Kashmir BJP MLAs ahead of Budget session

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to meet all 28 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to discuss the party’s strategy for fulfilling its agenda and ensuring continued development in the Union Territory (UT).

The local leaders from the BJP, the main opposition party in the Jammu and Kashmir UT Assembly, have expressed concerns about maintaining its influence and commitment to the region, especially after falling short of a majority in the assembly elections.

The meeting is expected to be held ahead of the first budget session of J&K as UT in which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds charge of the Finance Department, will present the budget for 2025-26.

Sources said that Shah is either planning to summon the MLAs to Delhi or visit the Jammu region himself in the coming days to engage in these crucial discussions. The assurance for this meeting was reportedly given to Sunil Sharma, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly and BJP MLA, during his meeting with the Home Minister in New Delhi on Sunday.

Sharma raised concerns about the party’s focus on the Jammu region, which overwhelmingly supported the BJP, contributing 29 out of 43 seats in the assembly, sources said. The BJP central leadership aims to ensure that the Jammu region, which played a pivotal role in the party’s performance, continues to receive attention and development despite the party’s inability to form the government.

By-elections for two Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seats are expected to take place in March or April. The Nagrota Assembly seat in Jammu became vacant following the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned from the Budgam seat and retained his position in Ganderbal.

Additionally, five MLAs, including two women, have yet to be nominated to the Assembly. According to J&K Reorganisation Act 2019, these MLAs are to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

All four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir have been vacant since February 2021, with elections for these seats also expected to be held soon.

“All these issues are expected to be discussed during the meeting between the Home Minister and the BJP MLAs from Jammu,” a BJP leader said.