In a bid to encourage political processes, including assembly elections in the union territory. PM Modi-led government is set to hold a meeting with regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir by next week.

The meeting will be the first such political engagement since the Centre stripped Jammu & Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status in August 2019 and split it into two Union territories. A meeting has held on Friday by Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi over preparations for the all-party meet even as the agenda for it was developmental issues and the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir. The state lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other top officials attended Shah’s meeting. In a statement, the home ministry said Shah called all-around development and welfare of people of Jammu & Kashmir as the government’s top priority. Amit Shah was congratulated Sinha and his team for ensuring the Covid-19 vaccination drive has reached 76% of the target in the Union territory and 100% in its four districts. The statement said Shah asked authorities to ensure the farmers in the region get the benefits of the central schemes. Additionally, the state has been without an elected government since chief minister Mehbooba Mufti lost power when the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew support to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led government in June 2018.

Meanwhile, District Development Council polls was first held in the region as part of efforts to restart political activities in Jammu & Kashmir last year. All major political parties participated in the exercise. The parties have also shown willingness to engage with the Centre.

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