Elections in Jammu and Kashmir

Limited participation of subjects in the process of establishment of accountable governance, creation of legislatures since 1934 with special stress upon the elections held in December 1946. The elections to the first ever constituent assembly makes the reader to assess and evaluate for himself the value of J&K Constitution Act 1956. All the elections to the state assembly since 1957 to date have been described in the first part of the book lucidly. Second part deals with the elections for Parliament segments. As a prelude, discussion has been initiated on the vital topic of the involvement of people of Jammu and Kashmir with the Constituent Assembly of India. The claim, that popular leadership was given power in 1947 is logically tested on the democratic principles and values. It is followed by the discussions on Maharaja’s sovereignty and the nature of his accession with India. The nomination to the first three Parliaments is relevantly described alongwith the delineation of constituencies. The elections held in J&K for six parliamentry segments from 1967 to 1999 has been described in detail. Epilogue to the book deals precisely with the developments which have taken place in tune with the political process at all levels. The by-election held for Jammu-Poonch Parliamentry Constituency in February 2002 has also been described. The impact of boycott policy and appointment of interlocutor by Government of India also find place in these discussions along with the appointment of Peoples Election Commission by APHC. The autonomy resolution and the cease-fire decision of the Government of India has been discussed in relation with that autonomy resolution. Suggestions on assimilation of democratic urge in the people of J&K with the democratic process in India have been highlighted. The book dispels the impressions created by mis-information and dis-information.