<p>Srinagar: As the country prepares for a fresh Vice Presidential election following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on Monday, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</a> will again find itself with only a limited say in the democratic process.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>.Vice President's exit: Govt was likely riled after Opposition’s RS move .<p>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.</p><p>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</p><p>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.</p>
<p>Srinagar: As the country prepares for a fresh Vice Presidential election following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation on Monday, <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</a> will again find itself with only a limited say in the democratic process.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>.Vice President's exit: Govt was likely riled after Opposition’s RS move .<p>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.</p><p>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</p><p>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.</p>