JAMMU: The mainstream National Conference and its 2008- alliance partner Congress have redoubled their efforts as PDP-BJP coalition is eyeing more berths in the Legislative Council with term of six of the members coming to an end in April.
The term of six Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) will come to an end on April 19, 2017 comprising one of PDP, three of National Conference and two of Congress.
In the 34-member House, six will be falling vacant with the completion of six-year term while two seats of local bodies are already lying vacant.
Seats including local bodies (Kashmir) fell vacant from December 28, 2008 due to election of PDP’s Nizam-u-din Bhat as MLA and in Jammu from October 16, 2011 caused due to retirement of Arvinder Singh Micky.
The members, whose term is coming to an end on April 19, 2017 are Yasir Reshi of PDP (Sonawari, Bandipora), Master Noor Hussain (Samba), Dr B A Veeri (Anantnag), Dharambir Singh Oberoi (Srinagar), all from National Conference and Jugal Kishore (Udhampur), Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Jahangir Mir (Poonch), both from Congress.
Presently, Congress has (7), National Conference (8), PDP (11) and BJP (8) MLCs.
The seat of Dharambir Singh Oberoi fell vacant after he breathed his last on December 31, 2016 at New Delhi.
“With PDP-BJP into power, the alliance partners will make all out efforts to bag maximum berths in the Legislative Council but National Conference and Congress have already redoubled their exercise to win the seats in the Upper House for their dominating presentation,” sources said.
They said that both NC-Congress have also devised a planned strategy to increase their number in the Upper House as out of the total number of members retiring, the setback will be to NC (3) and Congress (2).
“The PDP and BJP may win two seats each while National Conference and Congress will share one seat each,” sources said.
“Term of six members will be coming to an end in April and the notification is yet to be issued,” Abdul Majid, Secretary, J&K Legislative Council said.
He said that the Notification will be issued at least one-month prior to the elections.
However, as per the norms of the J&K Legislative Assembly, eleven members shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly from amongst persons who are residents of the Province of Kashmir such that of the members so elected, at least one shall be a resident of district Leh and at least one be resident of district Kargil.
Eleven members shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly from amongst persons who are residents of the Province of Jammu such that of the members so elected, at least one shall be a resident of Doda District and at least one shall be a resident of Poonch District.
One member each shall be elected from the members of Municipal Council, town area committees and notified area committees in the Province of Kashmir and Jammu respectively.
Two members each shall be elected by the members of the Panchayats and such other local bodies in the Province of Kashmir and Jammu respectively. Eight members shall be nominated by the Governor, not more than three of whom shall be persons belonging to any of the socially or economically backward classes in the State, and the others shall be persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters such as literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service.