Srinagar, August 11 (KNS): Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticised the Centre’s decision to nominate five MLAs to the Union Territory’s Legislative Assembly, accusing it of overriding the public mandate. She said the move amounts to handpicking legislators through undemocratic means, undermining the sanctity of the recently held elections in J&K.

Taking to X, Mehbooba Mufti posted that’ GOIs decision to nominate 5 MLAs in J&K after holding elections is a blatant subversion of democratic principles. Nowhere else in the country does the Centre handpick legislators to override the public mandate.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIn India’s only Muslim-majority region, long marred by conflict, this move feels less like governance and more like control.

She said that following the illegal bifurcation of the state, skewed delimitation and discriminatory seat reservations this nomination is yet another body blow to the idea of democracy in J&K. Representation must be earned through the people’s vote not granted by central decree.

This cannot be allowed to become the norm. Hope Omar Abdullah government rises to the occasion by challenging this undemocratic precedent because silence now would be complicity later, she added.(KNS)