The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of the upcoming Budgam and Nagrota assembly bypolls.
The controversy arose after Abdullah, during a session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, announced that his government was considering starting admissions for the National Law University (NLU) in the Union Territory from the next academic year. He also suggested that a temporary campus could be opened in Ompora, Budgam, until a permanent facility is established.
The BJP alleged that this announcement amounted to a new project declaration in Budgam, where polling is set for November 4, and therefore violated the MCC, which came into effect on October 8. Party leader Sunil Sharma, the leader of opposition in the J&K Assembly, urged the ECI to take immediate action, arguing that such assurances from a sitting chief minister undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
According to reports, the BJP’s Budgam candidate, Syed Aga Mohsin, has also lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner. The National Conference has fielded Syed Aga Mehmood, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has nominated Aga Syed Muntazir for the same seat.
The J&K National Law University Bill, passed in 2018, had remained inactive after the fall of the PDP-BJP government and the abrogation of Article 370. The Omar Abdullah-led administration recently revived discussions on setting up the institution, with the Law and Higher Education Departments identifying land and preparing proposals for its establishment.
The ECI’s guidelines clearly restrict any ruling party from making new policy announcements or promises once the MCC is in force. The matter now awaits the Commission’s response.
