Srinagar, Oct 5 ( KINS ): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti has criticized the incoming Jammu and Kashmir Government, claiming it will be a “toothless tiger” with a chief minister reduced to a “rubber stamp” and a “glorified mayor.” Her remarks come just days before the results of the much-awaited Assembly elections, held after a 10-year gap, are set to be announced on October 8.
Iltija took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her concerns, stating, “With the LG [Lieutenant Governor] ‘nominating’ five MLAs and the Chief Secretary changing transaction of business rules, it’s clear that the incoming Government will be a toothless tiger.” She questioned how much more the central Government of India would undermine Jammu and Kashmir’s authority and autonomy, adding, “Rubber stamp CM = Glorified mayor of a municipality.”
Iltija, the daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, is contesting the Assembly elections from Bijbehara in Anantnag district.
The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, initially allowed the Lieutenant Governor to nominate two members to the Legislative Assembly to ensure adequate representation of women. However, an amendment in July 2023 added provisions for the nomination of three more members — two from the Kashmiri migrant community, including one woman, and one from the ‘displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.’
Iltija’s criticism follows similar concerns raised by National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, who claimed that the LG administration was making changes to curtail the powers of the chief minister. Abdullah suggested that the BJP had accepted defeat in J&K and was now using the Chief Secretary to amend the transaction of business rules, weakening the incoming Government’s authority.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has dismissed Abdullah’s claims as “misleading and speculative,” asserting that there is “not even an iota of truth” to the allegations. “There is absolutely no such proposal,” Shah said in a post on X.
The three-phase Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on October 1, with a voter turnout of 63.88%. The results will be declared on October 8. ( KINS )
