Srinagar, Aug 27 : For the third time in history, Jammu & Kashmir will play only a partial role in the Vice-Presidential election, as all four of its Rajya Sabha seats currently remain vacant. The Vice-President of India is elected by an Electoral College comprising members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Officials told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that all six Lok Sabha seats of undivided Jammu & Kashmir were lying vacant when the Vice-Presidential election was held in 1992. The Lok Sabha election could not be held in 1991 in J&K due to militancy, and the erstwhile state remained without representation in the Lower House until 1996. The Union Government had promulgated an ordinance to temporarily set aside the constitutional requirement to hold parliamentary polls in J&K in 1991.
According to officials, J&K had no representation in the Rajya Sabha when the 16th Vice-Presidential election was held in 2022. All four Rajya Sabha members had completed their terms in 2021, and their replacements could not be elected due to the absence of an Electoral College, i.e., elected MLAs.
A similar situation exists for the 17th Vice-Presidential election, for which MPs will vote on September 9. All four Rajya Sabha seats are currently vacant, as the Election Commission of India has not notified the date for filling them—despite the existence of an Electoral College since October 8, 2024—(KNO)
