The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the Assembly’s ongoing session and was passed by voice vote on September 28, 2026.
The resolution was passed amid strong protests by BJP legislators, who opposed the manner in which the proposal was taken up and objected to references connected with Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-August 2019 constitutional position. BJP members staged a walkout before the vote.
The resolution calls upon the Government of India to restore full statehood and forward the Assembly’s resolution for necessary action. Jammu and Kashmir has continued as a Union Territory since the 2019 reorganisation that created the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The debate also saw disagreements over references to earlier Assembly resolutions and autonomy-related issues. The development has renewed political discussion in the region over the future administrative status of Jammu and Kashmir.
The discussion witnessed strong exchanges between members of the ruling National Conference and BJP. BJP legislators objected to the way the resolution was brought before the House and questioned the Speaker’s decision to allow it to be taken up under relaxed rules. The BJP also raised objections to references connected with Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-2019 constitutional position.
According to reports, BJP members protested inside the House before eventually walking out of the proceedings. The party has said it supports restoration of statehood but opposed references linking the resolution with issues such as Article 370 and earlier autonomy arrangements.
During the debate, several legislators proposed amendments referring to autonomy, Article 370, Article 35A, the former state flag and the pre-1953 constitutional position. However, these amendments were not pressed when the final resolution was considered. The final resolution focused on the demand for restoration of full statehood.
The issue has therefore become a major point of discussion in the Assembly, with different political parties taking different positions on whether the statehood demand should be considered separately from the broader debate over Jammu and Kashmir’s former constitutional status.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has argued that Jammu and Kashmir should not have to wait indefinitely for the restoration of statehood. During the Assembly proceedings, he questioned what the phrase “appropriate time” means in relation to the restoration of statehood and sought clarity on the issue.
The passage of the resolution does not itself restore statehood. It represents the elected Assembly’s request to the Union government for restoration, with the final decision requiring action at the central level.The latest development is expected to keep the question of J&K statehood restoration at the centre of political discussions in the region and in national politics.
