Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to miss presidential polls for second time in history

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act provides for a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, but the election is yet to be held due to various reasons

As India elects its next President on July 18, the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will not be a part of the exercise for the second time in the history of the election to the top constitutional post.

There have been precedents of Legislative Assemblies of States not being part of the presidential polls on account of their dissolution, the first such instance being of Gujarat in 1974.

The Assemblies of Assam, Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir too could not participate in subsequent elections on account of dissolution.

In the present case, the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir is yet to be constituted after the erstwhile State was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in 2019.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act provides for a Legislative Assembly for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, but the election is yet to be held due to various reasons.

In 1974, Gujarat was in the throes of the Navnirman movement, which led to the dissolution of the State Government headed by Chimanbhai Patel.

Against the backdrop of demands to postpone the presidential polls, a reference was made to the Supreme Court to get its opinion and nip any controversy in the bud.