SRINAGAR, Oct 26:
In Jammu and Kashmir, which witnessed a single party rule since elections were held in the State after its merger with the union of India in 1947 barring few years in between, a multi-cornered contest is expected in all the 87 Assembly constituencies this time. However, there would be no polls in 25 constituencies reserved for the people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) since elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir.
More than 10,000 polling booths, majority of them hyper sensitive and sensitive, will be set up for over 72 lakh voters to elect their representatives in the State, where separatists have already started anti-poll campaign, particularly in the Kashmir valley.
Since the emergence of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the State witnessed coalition rule from 2002 because of hung Assembly in 2002 and 2008. The Congress, however, shared power on both the occasions with regional parties PDP in 2002 and National Conference (NC) in 2008. It was NC which ruled the State for majority years after the party started participating in the polls following Indira-Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah accord in 1975. The NC formed the Government with the support of Congress members after Syed Mir Qasim stepped down to pave the way for Sheikh Abdullah to become Chief Minister after he (Sheikh) joined the national mainstream abandoning plebiscite demand following accord.
The first legislature of Jammu and Kashmir (kingdom) was established by the Government of the Maharaja Hari Singh in 1934. However, it was considered un-democratic and un-representative as no political party was allowed to take part.
Sir Albion Banerjee ruled the State from January, 1927 to March, 1929, G E C Wakefield from 1929 to 1933, Elliot James Dowell Colvin from 1933 to 1936. Sir Barjor J Dalal from1936 to July, 1943, Kailas Narain Haksar from July, 1943 to February, 1944, Sir Benegal Narsing Rau from February, 1944 to June 28 , 1945, Ram Chandra Kak from June 28,1945 to August 11, 1947 and Janak Singh from August 11, 1947 to October 15, 1947.
Mehr Chand Mahajan was the first Prime Minister of the State after partition from October 15, 1947 to March 5, 1948.
However, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah took over as Prime Minister of the State on March 5,1948 after Mahajan of Indian National Congress stepped down. Polls were first held in Jammu and Kashmir in August-September 1951 and NC won all the 75 seats unopposed under the leadership of Sheikh Abdullah. On October 31, 1951 Sheikh Abdullah as Prime Minister of the State addressed the Assembly for the first time and called the House to frame the States constitution and to give a reasoned conclusion regarding accession. However, he was removed as PM and later jailed in 1953 for about ten years.
Senior NC leader Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad later become Prime Minister of the State on August 9, 1953 with the support of NC leaders who opposed Sheikh Abdullah. After the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah, the NC leaders loyal to him formed plebiscite front and did not participate in any Assembly and Parliament elections in the State till Indira-Sheikh accord.
In the first Assembly polls after Sheikh Abdullah’s arrest, the NC headed by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad got a thumping majority winning 70 seats.
However, in the same elections Praja Parishid (PP) got three seats while two independents also got elected in 1962. For PP, Shiv Charan got elected from Landar Tikri, Reshi Kumar Koushal from Reasi and Prem Nath from Jammu city North. Two independents Abdul Gani Mir from Handwara and Ghulam Nabi Wani from Darhgam also won defeating NC and Indian National Congress (INC) candidates respectively. However, on October 12, 1963 Khawaja Shamasudin become Prime Minister after Bakshi was removed following disappearance of Holy Relic of Prophet Mohammad from Hazratbal Shrine, which evoked massive protests across the Valley. Khawaja was also removed as PM on February 29, 1964 and G M Sadiq became PM of the State after majority NC (Bakshi) leaders deserted the party and joined INC. Later in March 1965 the name of PM was changed to Chief Minister by the INC and Sadiq become first Chief Minister of the State.
In 1967, seats INC won 61 seats getting an absolute majority in the State Assembly under the leadership of Sadiq. Bhartiya Jan Sangh (BJS) won three seats while NC of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad got just eight seats and three independents were also elected.
For BJS R Nath won from Jammu South, Prem Nath Jammu North and Shiv Charan from Tikri constituency defeating INC candidates.
Sadiq died on December 12, 1971 and Syed Mir Qasim become Chief Minister.
Under his leadership in 1972 Assembly polls, the INC got 58 seats, BJS got three and Jamait-e-Islami (JMI), including that of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, presently chairman of the hardliner Hurriyat Conference (HC) participating for the first time in the polls won five seats while nine independents also got elected
Qasim remained Chief Minister till February 25, 1975 when he stepped down to pave the way for Sheikh Abdullah to become Chief Minister following Indira-Sheikh accord. However, Congress withdraw support to Sheikh and presidents rule was imposed from March 26, 1977 to July 9, 1977. Sheikh Abdullah become Chief Minister after NC got thumping majority in the 1977 polls. However, his son Dr Farooq Abdullah was sworn in as Chief Minister after the death of Sheikh Abdullah on September 8, 1982. However his Government was toppled by his brother in law Ghulam Mohammad Shah with the help of Congress and become Chief Minister of the State July 2, 1984 till March 6,1986.
Later after Congress withdraw support to Shah and presidents rule was imposed in the State from March 6, 1986 till November 7,1986 when fresh elections were held and Dr Abdullah again become Chief Minister till January 19, 1990 when he (Abdullah) resigned after Jagmohan was appointed Governor of the State following eruption of militancy in the State.
Governor’s rule continued till 1996 when fresh elections were held and Dr Abdullah become again Chief Minister of the State after the NC got absolute majority on the promise to restore autonomy.
However, the autonomy resolution passed by both the Houses of the legislature was rejected by the NDA Government at the centre of which NC was in coalition and junior Abdullah was a Minister of State in the cabinet.
There was again President’s rules in the State from October 18, 2002 to November 2, 2002 when fresh elections were held in the State.
Mufti Mohammad Sayed, who launched PDP become the first non NC Chief Minister of the State on November 2, 2002 with Congress support. The PDP agreed to rule the State for three years each in coalition. Later on November 5, 2005 Ghulam Nabi Azad became Chief Minister after Sayeed stepped down as per agreement. However, PDP withdrew the support to Azad Government and presidents rule was imposed on July 11, 2008 following State wide protests over Amarnath land row. President rule was imposed in the State on July 11,2009 after resignation by Mr Azad which continued till January 5,2009 when Omar Abdullah become Chief Minister with the support of Congress after no party got majority in 2008 polls.
However, the NC emerged largest single party with 28 seats followed by PDP 21, Congress 17, BJP 11 and others 10, which included National Panthers Party (NPP), Communist Party of India (M), Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) and People’s Democratic Front (PDF).
The INC could won only three seats in the Kashmir valley while the NC suffered major loss in the Valley to PDP. The PDP and NC have already nominated candidates for the ensuing polls while Congress and BJP are yet to make any announcement.(UNI)
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