Political Information

The state of Jammu & Kashmir is governed by a Chief Minister responsible to a bicameral legislature (consists of two houses – legislative council and legislative assembly) and by a Governor appointed by the President of India. The state has a multi party democratic system of governance. Main political parties of the state include the National Conference, the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP). Presently, Indian National Congress and its ally PDP hold the maximum number of seats in the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly.

The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir framed by a separate Constituent Assembly came into force from 26 January 1957. Section 46 of the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution states that the Legislature shall consist of the Governor and the two Houses known as the Legislative Council (Upper House) and the Legislative Assembly (Lower House). The members of the legislative assembly are directly elected by the people of the state by a popular vote organized by the Election Commission of India. The house ahs a tenure of six years unless sooner dissolved.

Jammu & Kashmir legislative assembly at present consists of 89 members out of which 87 are elected by a popular vote and 2 are nominated. The assembly has its own rule of procedure and conduct of business to regulate the business of the house. The house brings various amendments to the existing rules wherever necessary, from time to time.