Preparations for elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Center to discuss with parties: report

Presidential rule in Kashmir likely to come to an end

Farooq Abdullah hints that local parties are ready for talks with Center, meeting likely soon

Srinagar: There are reports that the Center may start talks with the state's political parties to start the political process linked to the Jammu and Kashmir elections and restore the state's status. Although no political party has been officially invited, the report claims that discussions have resumed.

However, the Gupkar alliance, a seven-party alliance formed to help give special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has signaled its involvement in talks with the Center.

A party called the National Conference has said it may be involved in the delimitation process. Earlier, in June 2018, the BJP-PDP alliance broke down and presidential rule was imposed in Kashmir. No political process was carried out after that.

In August 2019, the Central Government terminated the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories. It was hoped that the Lok Sabha elections would be held in 2019 along with the Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission, however, denied the reports. Now there are reports that the government may start the process of negotiating with political parties about holding elections with political parties. In it, Farooq Abdullah, a defender of the National Conference and president of the Gupkar coalition, said he was not opposed to talks.