Union Minister Nadda visits Jammu ahead of Budget Session

Jammu, March 1: Ahead of the budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda arrived in Jammu on Saturday to meet the party’s legislators.

Nadda was welcomed by senior BJP leaders, including union minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh, MP Jugal Kishore, and Sat Sharma.

A BJP leader told news agency that Nadda will address the concluding session of a two-day workshop that began on Friday, inaugurated by BJP’s national general secretary (organization) B.L. Santosh and national IT and social media head Amit Malviya.

His visit signals the BJP’s strategy to function as the principal opposition in the Union Territory.

The workshop aims to train BJP legislators, including first-time MLAs, in legislative procedures and opposition tactics as they prepare to counter the Omar Abdullah-led government. The budget session, beginning March 3, is expected to witness heated debates, with resolutions on Article 370, the Public Safety Act (PSA), and a private member bill on banning alcohol already submitted.

The BJP has vowed to oppose any resolution that contradicts its core ideology. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will address the Assembly at 10 a.m. on March 3, with the secretariat instructing members to maintain decorum. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is set to present the annual budget on March 7.

This marks the first J&K Assembly session in seven years. The last session was held in 2018 during the PDP-BJP coalition government. The BJP later withdrew support, leading to Governor’s Rule. Following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of J&K into a Union Territory in 2019, the Assembly elections were finally held in 2024, allowing the National Conference to form the government. (KINS)