Jammu & Kashmir has always been a matter of dispute between India and the neighbouring Pakistan. Just as in other states of India, J&K also has a multi-party democratic system of governance. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) collectively have the biggest presence in the state legislative assembly at the moment. In the J&K assembly elections held in November-December 2014, the PDP won most number of seats (28), while the BJP was able to manage 25 seats in the 87-member assembly.

The 2002 Assembly Elections in the Jammu & Kashmir proved to be a turning point in the political history of the state. The elections restored people’s faith in the democracy of Jammu & Kashmir as they braved the boycott call of the separatists and threat of militant attacks. It was the first time when PDP came into power and soon a new chapter was written in the political realm of the state. In the 2008 Assembly polls of Jammu & Kashmir, the National Conference won 28 seats, People’s Democratic Party bagged 21 seats and the Congress took 17 seats. While the BJP registered victory in 11 seats, others managed 10 seats.

Jammu & Kashmir has a bicameral legislature and the Legislative Assembly or Vidhan Sabha is the lower house of the legislature. The first legislature of Jammu & Kashmir was that of the Maharaja Hari Singh in 1934. However, it was not considered democratic as there were restrictions on the participation of any political party. Later, when first free democratic elections were held in the state in 1951, the National Conference got a majority in the new constituent assembly with Sheikh Abdullah as the head of government. There are a total of 87 members in the Legislative Assembly and they serve the assembly for a six-year term (The term of the legislative assembly is five years in all other Indian states). While the assembly is administered by the Speaker, the leader of the house is the Chief Minister.

The state has a special status within the union government of India. Unlike the rest of the states, Jammu & Kashmir enjoys special autonomy under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The Union government has direct legislative powers only in matters of defence, foreign policy, and communications within the state and has indirect influence in matters of citizenship, Supreme Court jurisdiction, and emergency powers. Under the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir, the governor is the head of state, and is appointed by the President of India. He is assisted by the Chief Minister and a council of ministers. The legislature consists of two houses: the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad). The members of Vidhan Parishad are elected by various groups of politicians, local administrators and educators. A few of them are elected by the Governor. The state sends six members to the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) and six members, elected jointly by the Legislative Assembly and Council, to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament). The High Court consists of a chief justice and 11 other judges, who are appointed by the President of India.