JAMMU: Opposition parties have strongly objected to ruling BJP’s move to ensure that the five nominated MLAs are appointed before the govt is formed in Jammu and Kashmir.
With the inclusion of five nominated MLAs, the J&K legislative assembly will expand to 95 members, increasing the majority threshold to 48 seats. Since the Union govt will recommend the Lt Governor to pick the MLAs, critics say they will toe Centre’s line.
“Congress will get comfortable majority, but this is anti-democratic and a fraud with democracy and mandate of the people who cast their vote to elect 90 MLAs,” said Ravinder Sharma, senior vice-president, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, at a press conference in Jammu Friday.It shows BJP’s desperation to manipulate numbers although the party can, in no way, form govt, he added.
The Lt Governor has to act on the advice of the council of ministers, and it would be a misuse of the provision of nomination if used to convert majority into minority and vice-versa, in case such a situation arises after counting, Sharma said.
“BJP had, perhaps, kept this provision of nomination with a view to play this fraud,” he added.