NOTES PREPARED BY
ADIL AHMAD ,M.A ,M.Phill
TEACHERSCHOOL EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT JAMMU AND KASHMIR
Chapter 6
Electoral Politics in The Erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir
Exercise
Match the following:
1.The first ever (Praja Sabha) Legislative Assembly through the regulation of Maharaja Hari Singh were conducted
(Ans:-)
in 1934
2.The proclamation for the formation of Constituent Assembly was issued on
Ans:- May, ist 1951
3.Legislative Assembly suspended for six years
Ans:- After 1987 elections
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY
Q. Write a detailed account to comprehend the electoral process and its nature in Erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir since pre independence?
Ans. The electoral process is the life line of modern political societies. Modern day democracy drives its strength and inspiration from electoral processes. A step to electoral processes in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir found its expression in the pre-1947 period with Glancy Commissions Recommendations. It prompted Maharaja Hari Singh to adopt Legislative Assembly (Praja Sabha) comprising 75 members. The first ever Legislative Assembly of 4934 had limited electoral component with only 33elected members out of which 21 seats were reserved for Muslim representation. The regulation reserved for Muslim representation. The regulation reserved 10 seats for Hindus, 2 for Sikhs and 30 seats reserved and special nominations of Maharaja (in which 12 nominations were restricted to state bureaucracy/official members). Potent urge for electoral process in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir surfaced with the resolution passed by Muslim Conference (Established 4th June 1932). The party demanded wider franchise to accommodate public demand for representation & accountable Government responsible on the floor of Legislative Assembly. With this agenda Muslim Conference gained popularity and after the completion of 4 years' term of Legislative Assembly (Praja Sabha) ended on 31st December 1937 Muslim Conference was able to capture 19 seats out of 21 seats reserved for Muslim representation. On 27th March 1938, Muslim Conference was converted into National Conference. Accession of the erstwhile State state of Jammu & Kashmir to the Union of India on 26th October 1947 motivated Sadar-e-Riyasat Dr. Karan Singh (the then head of the Jammu and Kashmir State)on 1 May 1951 to issue a proclamation directing the formation of constituent Assembly cum legislative assembly. Constituent Assembly was to draft constitution of the erstwhile state of J&K. Elections to the constituent assembly were fully conducted on the basis of Adult Suffrage. The legislative assembly was initially composed of 100 members and its number was increased to 111 members by virtue of an amendment to the constitution through Jammu and Kashmir Act of 1988 (20th amendment The total contestable and filled seats of the assembly were 87 and rest were reserved for POJK. Out of 87 constituencies, 07 assembly constituencies were reserved for scheduled castes (SC). All these 07 seats all in Jammu region-3 in Jammu district and one each in Samba, Kathua Udhampur and Rambhan district till 2019.
Q. Explain in detail the electoral behavior trends in Kashmir?
Ans. The elections of the constituent assembly were held in 1951, National Conference secured all the 75 seats, 73 of its candidates were elected unopposed.
The first assembly elections were held in 1957. Under the new constitution adopted in 1956. National Conference contested elections under Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. It won 68 seats with 41 unopposed. Out of the remaining 7 seats, 5 went of Praja Parishad, 1 to Hari janmandal an independent candidate.
year 1967, assembly elections were held when Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq was Chief Minister and National Conference at that time had got merged with Indian National Congress. The ruling congress won 61 seats. The Jan Sangh (transformed from Praja Parishad) won three seats and National Conference faction led by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad won eight seats and remaining three went to Independent Candidates. The total voting percentage recorded was 58.79% In 1972 Assembly elections were held during the Chief Ministership of Syed Mir Qasim. The ruling Congress won with two-third majority capturing 58 seats (30 out of 43 in Kashmir and 28 out of 32 in jammu The Jan Singh won 3 seats and Jamait-e-Islami, a new entrant, wor seats (All from Kashmir valley) and communist Party of India got, seats. 62.17% The total voting percentage in the Assembly elections recorded was 62.17%
In 1977 Assembly elections, Indian National Congress on 10 seats, Janata Party won 13 seats, the independent won 4 seats, Jamait-e-Islami won 1-seat. All the remaining 47 seats went to National Conference after.. its revival. The total voting percentage recorded was 67.70% In the Assembly elections of 1983, National Conference won 47 seats while congress (1) won 26 seats. The Musim United Front won 2 seats and one went to Jamait-i-islami. The total voting percentage of this election was 73.24%
In the assembly elections 1987 National conference had electoral alliance with congress. In this assembly election, National conference captured fort seats. The total voting percentage recorded was 74.88 %..The assembly election on 1996, National Conference again won 57 seats out of 87 total seats. The voting Percentage recorded was 53.92%. In 2002 Assembly elections, Indian National Congress won 20 seats, PDP won 16 seats, Panthers party won 04 seats, BJP won 1 seat and the overall voting percentage was 45%. In 2008 National Conference won 28 seats, PDP won 21 seats, Congress won 17 seats, BJP won 11 seats and Panthers Party won 03 seats with overall
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