March 03, 2025- Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir – The Budget Session of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly commenced today, March 3, 2025, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address setting the stage for what promises to be a contentious yet pivotal session. The ruling National Conference -Congress alliance is expected to push the restoration of statehood as a key issue, while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has vowed to focus on governance and unfulfilled electoral promises.
Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, representing the BJP, outlined the party’s strategy ahead of the session. “A meeting of MLAs will be held, and the budget session will start after the LG’s speech,” Sharma stated during a press interaction in Jammu. Dismissing the statehood debate, he argued, “Statehood is not an issue and is outside the jurisdiction of the assembly.” Instead, Sharma emphasised that the BJP would hold the ruling coalition accountable for its commitments, including promises of 200 units of free electricity, free ration, free cylinders, pensions, and employment opportunities. “We will raise questions on the daily issues faced by people, especially governance,” he added, signalling a focus on practical concerns over political symbolism.
Echoing this sentiment, BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa stressed the party’s intent to play a constructive role. “We should listen to the LG’s speech peacefully,” Randhawa said, adding, “BJP will make a very positive contribution in the budget session.” He also issued a warning to the opposition parties with smaller representations, noting, “PDP and Congress are almost in single digits (assembly seats). If they come up with meaningless issues, they will face trouble.” The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secured three seats, and Congress won six in the recent elections, compared to the BJP’s 29 and NC’s 42, giving the latter a commanding majority alongside its allies.
The session, the first budget presentation under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s NC-led government since assuming power on October 16, 2024, follows a six-year period of central rule. The NC-Congress alliance has consistently highlighted statehood restoration as a core demand, reflecting the aspirations of many in the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir reinforced this stance on Sunday, stating, “It is the demand of the 1.4 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir,” distancing the issue from partisan politics.
In contrast, the BJP’s dismissal of statehood as a legislative concern aligns with its broader narrative that such matters fall under the central government’s purview. Sharma and Randhawa’s remarks suggest a strategy to pivot the discourse toward governance lapses, potentially exposing cracks in the ruling coalition’s early tenure. Meanwhile, voices like Awami Ittehad Party MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh have indicated plans to raise both statehood and Article 370, underscoring a divide in political priorities.
As the session unfolds, all eyes will be on how the NC-Congress alliance balances its manifesto promises with the BJP’s opposition tactics. With security heightened around the legislative complex in Jammu and preparations complete, the budget discussions are poised to shape the Union Territory’s fiscal and political trajectory in the coming year.