As RS seats remain vacant, J&K to have only partial role in Vice Presidential polls

Srinagar, Jul 22: Jammu and Kashmir will have only partial representation in the upcoming Vice Presidential election, as the Union Territory currently has no members in the Rajya Sabha, which, along with the Lok Sabha, forms the electoral college for the election.

The 74-year-old Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, submitted his resignation on Monday, prompting the Election Commission to begin preparations to fill the constitutional position. A formal notification is expected to be issued in the coming days.

While members of both Houses of Parliament vote in the Vice Presidential election, Jammu and Kashmir’s role in the process will be limited. Its five Lok Sabha members will participate, but the absence of Rajya Sabha representatives means the UT will lack a complete voice in the poll.

All four Rajya Sabha seats allotted to Jammu and Kashmir have remained vacant since February 2021, when the terms of the last sitting members ended. Under constitutional provisions, Rajya Sabha members are elected by the legislative assemblies of states and Union Territories. However, in the absence of an elected assembly in Jammu and Kashmir from June 2018, no new members could be chosen.

An assembly election was eventually held in September 2024  but the Election Commission has not yet initiated the process for Rajya Sabha elections, even after nine months of the UT having a representative government.

On February 15, 2021, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmad Laway completed their Rajya Sabha terms. Before this on February 10, the terms of  Fayaz Ahmad Mir and Shamshir Singh Manhas came to end.

Political observers say the continued absence of Upper House representation highlights a broader democratic gap in the region. “Democracy is not implemented in peace meals. It is a holistic approach”, said Shahnawaz Hussain, a political analyst.

He said that representation in Parliament is not symbolic, it is fundamental to federal governance.  “Denying a region its voice in the Rajya Sabha while claiming normalcy undermines the democratic process”, Hussain added.

The Vice President of India also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. With the election likely to reflect the prevailing balance of power between the ruling alliance and the opposition, Jammu and Kashmir’s limited participation draws renewed attention to its incomplete parliamentary presence.