Srinagar: The summer capital is set for intensified political activity as the National Conference (NC), Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convene separate legislature party meetings on Sunday to prepare for the forthcoming autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
NC meeting to include Independents supporting government
The ruling National Conference has summoned its legislators and five Independent MLAs who support the government for a meeting at 4:30 PM in the banquet hall here. The meeting will be chaired by NC president Farooq Abdullah and will be attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, according to party schedules released ahead of the session.
The Independents invited to the NC meeting are:
- Satish Sharma (Khour)
- Choudhary Mohammad Akram (Surankote)
- Pyare Lal Sharma (Inderwal)
- Dr Rameshwar Singh (Bani)
- Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (Thanamandi)
After the NC-Independents meeting, a joint session involving the NC, Congress, CPI(M) and the five supporting Independents is scheduled for 5:00 PM, the organisers said.
Separate Congress and BJP meetings
The Congress has arranged a standalone meeting of its legislators at 3:30 PM at the party headquarters. Chief Whip of the Congress legislature party Nizamuddin Bhat confirmed the time and venue for the gathering, which party leaders say is intended to finalise its approach to the autumn session.
The principal opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has also called its MLAs for a meeting on Sunday evening. Sunil Kumar Sharma, Leader of Opposition, will chair the BJP legislature party meeting to craft the party’s strategy for the Assembly session.
“We are holding a meeting of MLAs tomorrow,” Sunil Kumar Sharma said, adding that the BJP will press the government on promises made to the people during the session.
Parties prepare to assert positions in Assembly
Leaders of the three parties indicated they will use the session to put forward their legislative priorities and to scrutinise government actions. The BJP has said it conducted consultations across Jammu and Kashmir to gather feedback from constituents on governance and other issues and intends to raise matters it says affect the common people.
The NC-led government’s decision to include supporting Independents in discussions underlines the narrow arithmetic that shapes legislative management in the current Assembly and the need for cross-party coordination to ensure smooth conduct of business during the session.
| Party / Group | Meeting Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Congress legislature party | 3:30 PM | Party headquarters |
| NC legislators & supporting Independents | 4:30 PM | Banquet hall, Srinagar |
| Joint meeting (NC, Congress, CPI(M) & Independents) | 5:00 PM | Venue as scheduled by organisers |
| BJP legislature party | Evening (Sunday) | Notified by party |
What to watch for during the autumn session
- How the NC manages its legislative strength with the support of Independents during votes on key measures.
- Issues the BJP chooses to prioritise while positioning itself as the principal opposition.
- Congress and CPI(M) contributions to debates and whether any cross-party initiatives emerge in the joint meeting.
Political observers say legislature party meetings ahead of a session typically set the tone for the first week of business, including the framing of speeches, questions and proposed motions. The meetings on Sunday are expected to finalise speaking lists and key points each party will emphasise when the Assembly convenes.
The organisation of multiple, overlapping meetings demonstrates the intensity of preparation by parties in Srinagar as the region’s legislators ready themselves for parliamentary work in the coming weeks. The reporting on the meeting schedules and comments by party leaders was carried by Kashmir News Service.
Reporting from Srinagar.
