The postponement of bye-polls for the Nagrota and Budgam Assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir has implications for the region's representation in the Rajya Sabha. The Election Commission of India (ECI) cited snowy conditions for deferring the elections, impacting the nomination process for the Upper House.
The Nagrota seat has remained vacant since the death of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana. In contrast, the Budgam seat was vacated after National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah retained the Ganderbal seat.
These bye-polls must be conducted by April 20, 2025, as mandated. However, the delay affects the strength of the Legislative Assembly, which determines the distribution of votes for Rajya Sabha elections.
Jammu and Kashmir's four Rajya Sabha seats have been vacant since February 2021, following the end of terms for Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shamsher Singh Manhas, Nazir Ahmad Laway, and Fayaz Ahmad Mir.
Although the ECI held Rajya Sabha elections for six seats in other states in late 2024, it excluded Jammu and Kashmir, citing the incomplete Assembly as a key reason.
The current power equation in the Assembly suggests the NC-Congress coalition, with support from Independents, CPI-M, and AAP, will likely win three Rajya Sabha seats.
The BJP can comfortably secure one seat and may aim for a second. However, the deferment of bye-polls disrupts this arithmetic, delaying the representation process in the Upper House.
This prolonged delay leaves Jammu and Kashmir without full representation in the Rajya Sabha for over three years, weakening its legislative voice at the national level.