Bengaluru — All India Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday expressed confidence about his party coming to power in Haryana, and the party along with its alliance partner National Conference forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

The results of both the assembly elections will be announced on October 8.

“Earlier too we had said that in Haryana and Jammu Kashmir, the Congress government will be formed. In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress and NC (National Conference) alliance will form the government, and in Haryana Congress government will be formed,” Kharge told reporters here.

Several exit polls have predicted a clear majority for the Congress in Haryana and gave an edge to its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, with the regional partner emerging as the single largest party.

Haryana had gone to single phase polls on October 5, while Jammu and Kashmir voted in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.

Elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of 10 years and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh — in 2019.

Responding to a question on the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi demanding caste census at the national level, Kharge said, “We had said it during Parliament election too, after taking views from all states, further action has to be taken.”

Asked whether the much-awaited Socio Economic and Education Survey report, also known as the “caste census” will be implemented in Karnataka, he replied, “Ask the state leaders about it.”

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had on Sunday said the government has decided to place the caste census report before the Cabinet, where it will be discussed, and further action will be decided.

Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes under its then Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde on February 29, had submitted the report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The report was submitted amid objections by certain sections of society and also within the ruling Congress.

Karnataka’s two dominant communities — Vokkaliags and Lingayats — have expressed reservations about the survey, calling it “unscientific”, and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted. — (PTI)

SRINAGAR: An application has been submitted to the Supreme Court requesting the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood within two months. The plea, filed by college teacher Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and activist Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, argues that the failure to restore statehood is significantly impacting the rights of citizens in the Valley.

Citing the recent elections in the Valley, the plea, through Advocate Soyaib Quresi, claims that forming the Legislative Assembly before restoring statehood would contravene the principle of federalism, which is part of the Constitution’s basic structure. The petitioner asserts that since the recent assembly elections were conducted peacefully, there would be “no security concerns” should the Supreme Court direct the restoration of statehood within a specific timeframe.

The petitioners argue that converting Jammu Kashmir into two Union Territories has resulted in a diminished form of elected democratic governance, which will be re-established once the Legislative Assembly results are announced. Bhat emphasises that the Valley has historically maintained a federal relationship with the Union of India. Therefore, restoring statehood is crucial for the residents to enjoy autonomy in their identity and contribute meaningfully to the country’s overall development.

The application, filed as a Miscellaneous Application in the disposed matter “In Re: Article 370 of the Constitution,” pertains to the Supreme Court’s prior upholding of the abrogation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status. In that ruling, the Court did not consider the constitutionality of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, which transformed J&K into a Union Territory, due to assurances from the Solicitor General regarding the restoration of statehood. The Court directed that “Restoration of statehood shall take place at the earliest and as soon as possible,” without specifying a timeline.

The applicants also highlighted that the peaceful conduct of the Assembly elections indicates no obstacles to restoring statehood. “Therefore, there is no impediment of security concerns, violence or any other disturbances which would hinder or prevent the grant/restoration of the status of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as had been assured by the Union of India in the present proceedings,” the application asserts. (Live Law)

Jammu — Congress candidate from Central Shalteng assembly seat Tariq Hameed Karra said on Sunday that they are ready to hold dialogues with any party and people who are on the same page to throw Bharatiya Janata Party out of the “power corridor” in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Indian National Congress has said that we are ready to hold a dialogue and associate with all those parties and people who are ready to throw BJP out of the power corridor…Everyone is welcome if they are on the same page and are like-minded,” he told ANI.

He also said that if Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad is ready to be on the same page regarding the ideology with Congress, then he is welcome to join the alliance.

“If today Ghulam Nabi Azad’s ideologies match with Congress and if he accepts the leadership and guiding principles of Congress, then he is welcomed in this pious programme. If any independent leader or political party will be on the same page in keeping the BJP out of power, then our doors are open for them. As of now, he (Ghulam Nabi Azad) is not on the same page but if he comes on the same page, it is for him to decide,” he said.

He further raised the issue of the nomination of 5 MLAs in the assembly which will be nominated by the Lieutenant Governor (LG), and said that the LG of a union territory should not have such “arbitrary powers.”

He told ANI, “The other thing was that we have been thinking about the nomination of the 5 MLAs. It was discussed and agreed that if the President of India doesn’t have the arbitrary powers to nominate a person. Because the Constitution says that the President of India can nominate anyone with the advice and guidance of the government, then how come the LG of a UT can have those arbitrary powers?”
He also talked about the problems faced by Congress candidates, alleging that liquor and money were being transported across the region during the election, but the Congress candidates did not get any help from the administration when complaints were raised.

“There was a consensus that they had to face a large number of complaints. Liquor, money and other things were being transported. They (candidates) say that they had been conveying these complaints to the administration. But, there was no cooperation from their side,” he added. — (ANI)