What if I say that not just Prime Minister Modi, but there is another Prime Minister in India? Well, this is not the present condition but 50 years back, this system was prevailing in India. From Independence to 1965, the state of Jammu and Kashmir had its own Prime Minister while India had its Prime Minister in Delhi.
Here is a list of Prime Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir!
- First Prime Minister of J&K:
The first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was Mehr Chand Mahajan. He became the PM on 15th October and his tenure ended on March 1948. So he was the PM for a short period of 142 days.
- Second Prime Minister of J&K:
The second Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was Sheikh Abdullah. His reign started on 5th March 1948 and ended on 9th August 1953. He remained in power for 5 years and 157 days. Sheikh Abdullah was from the National Conference and like the Gandhi dynasty, even he has his own dynasty in Jammu and Kashmir till date.
- Third Prime Minister of J&K:
The third Prime Minister was Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who was also an MLA for Safa Kadal from the National Conference. His reign started from 9th August 1953. He remained the PM for the longest period ever. After serving for 10 years and 64 days his tenure ended on 12th October 1963.
- Fourth Prime Minister of J&K:
Khawaja Shamsuddin was the fourth PM of J&K, who was also an MLA from Anantnag from the National Conference. His tenure started on 12th October 1963 and ended on29th February 1964 after serving for just 140 days.
- Fifth Prime Minister of J&K:
The fifth and the last Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq, who was also an MLA from Tankipura. He remained in power for 1 year and 30 days; it started from 29th February 1964 and ended on 30th March 1965. He was from the Indian National Congress.
But after him, the Prime Ministerial system seized to exist. Since the Jammu and Kashmir was headed up chief ministers. The first CM of J&K was Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq, who was also the last PM of J&K
Did you know that Jammu and Kashmir has its own Constitution?
Indians should also not forget that Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India which has a separate constitution. This constitution was adopted in 1956 and came to effect on January 26, 1957. Preamble of India starts with “We, the people of India” but Jammu and Kashmir’s preamble starts with “We, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir”.
While discussing on Jammu and Kashmir, even the person with slightest awareness on national issues might end up discussing on Article 370. After the Modi government came into power, the discussion on this topic is heard on a daily basis.
Now one might ask what is Article 370?
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution is a ‘temporary provision’ which grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. Under Part XXI of the Constitution of India, which deals with “Temporary, Transitional and Special provisions”, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been accorded special status under Article 370. All the provisions of the constitution which are applicable to other states are not applicable to J&K. For example, till 1965, J&K had a Sadr-e-Riyasat for governor and prime minister in place of chief minister.
Source: Times of India
Hansika Raj
