Srinagar , Oct 19 : The newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Jammu and Kashmir are set to take the oath of office on Monday, marking the end of a six-year period without legislative activity in the region. The ceremony, scheduled for 2 PM in Srinagar, will be overseen by Pro tem Speaker Mubarak Gul.
A total of 51 first-time members are among the MLAs who will be sworn in. The National Conference (NC), which emerged as the single largest party in the recent assembly elections held in September and October, has formed a government with the backing of Congress (which has six MLAs) and support from five independent MLAs, one AAP MLA, and the CPI(M).
The BJP, with 29 seats, achieved its best-ever performance in the state, becoming the second-largest party. Shagun Parihar, the 29-year-old BJP MLA from Kishtwar, is the youngest legislator in the house, while NC’s veteran MLA from Chrar-e-Sharief, Abdul Rahim Rather, at 80, is the oldest.
Rather, along with Ali Mohammad Sagar (MLA Khanyar), holds the distinction of being elected to the assembly seven times. Sagar has been a member since 1983, while Rather began his long political career in 1977 but lost his seat in the 2014 elections.
The assembly also includes three women MLAs: Shagun Parihar, Sakina Masood Itoo (MLA DH Pora), and Shameema Firdous (MLA Habba Kadal), the latter two representing the National Conference.
