The extension in the term of delimitation commission exclusively for Jammu & Kashmir only by one year is by all standards of understandabilities is undoubtedly a severe blow to those mainstream parties who have been consistently demanding restoration of statehood and assembly elections without insisting for restoration of abrogated article 370 and article 35 A of the constitution under which the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state enjoyed special status. However the decision goes against the spirit of restoration of popular rule in Jammu & Kashmir . Since the decision has come after boycott of the maiden meeting of delimitation commission by three National Conference Parliament Members representing three Lok Sabha constituencies of Kashmir valley and an appeal by the Lt Governor Maonj Sinha to political parties for cooperation in the delimitation exercise the extension in the term of the delimitation commission was announced, so obviously the intention of the central government to give more time to the commission is to give all stakeholders an opportunity to give legitimacy to the delimitation exercise. The extension in the term of delimitation commission exclusively for Jammu & Kashmir only by one year has on the other hand endorsed the views of critics who say that the decision has come in the wake of growing criticism over total non participation by Kashmir’s elected representatives in the maiden meeting of the delimitation commission. What generates interest in the debate over the extension in the term of delimitation commission by one year exclusively for Jammu & Kashmir is also the fact the delimitation has not been only boycotted but also rejected by the all three National Conference Parliament Members representing all the three valley Lok Sabha constituencies. So the extension in the term of delimitation commission obviously is in a way victory for the National Conference and it’s allies in the Peoples Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and by all standards of understandabilities a blow to the political parties seeking early assembly polls without insisting on restoration of abrogated article 370 and article 35 A of the constitution under which the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state enjoyed special status. Since the decision of extension in the term of delimitation commission was announced only after a European delegation in a report over it’s recent visit to Kashmir demanded early assembly polls and return of popular rule, the move could be an attempt of the government to ward off the impression about foreign intervention in Kashmir over the restoration of 4 G mobile internet services and the recent ceasefire agreement over borders with Pakistan in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladhak as well. The next moves in Jammu & Kashmir would either dispel or endorse the impressions about the foreign intervention in the constitutional, institutional and administrative restructuring in Jammu & Kashmir. The future moves of the centre would also show that whether Central Government is interested in restoring democracy and popular rule or prolonging the current phase of political chaos in Jammu & Kashmir.
