Amid the BJP’s allegations that certain forces are hatching a conspiracy to divide the Jammu region on religious lines, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has pitched for the reorganisations of Jammu province into three divisions.
In addition to seeking the bifurcation of the existing Jammu province to create two new divisions, the PDP has also demanded the formation of new hill districts. The party has specifically proposed the creation of two new provinces—Chenab and Pir Panjal—within the Jammu region.
To pursue this demand, the PDP has introduced a private member’s bill in the ongoing budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The second phase of the 2026 budget session is scheduled to begin on March 27, while the first phase was held from February 2 to February 20.
At present, Jammu and Kashmir has two divisions—Jammu and Kashmir—each comprising ten districts.
PDP youth wing president and Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para has introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Territorial Administrative Reorganisation Bill, 2026, in the Assembly. The proposed legislation calls for the creation of additional administrative units alongside the existing divisions.
Emphasis on new districts
The bill proposes the reorganisation of Jammu province into three provinces and the creation of several new districts. It suggests forming the Chenab province by merging Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar districts, with Doda as its headquarters. The proposed Pir Panjal province would comprise Rajouri and Poonch districts, with its headquarters in Rajouri.
While the bill does not focus on reorganising the Kashmir division, it does emphasise the creation of new districts there.
In Kashmir, the PDP has proposed seven new hill districts: Tral-Awantipora (Pulwama), Ashmuqam (Anantnag), Beerwah (Budgam), Sopore (Baramulla), Handwara (Kupwara), Gurez (Bandipora), and Tangdar-Karnah (Kupwara).
In Jammu province, the areas identified for district status include Nowshera (Rajouri), Bhaderwah (Doda), Banihal (Ramban), Akhnoor (Jammu), Billawar (Kathua), Kotranka (Rajouri), and Mendhar (Poonch).
Resolution introduced in Assembly
The bill states that the Jammu and Kashmir government will have the authority to notify and create new districts within the Jammu, Kashmir, Chenab, and Pir Panjal divisions.
According to the PDP, the creation of these administrative units will streamline governance and ensure equitable and holistic development across regions. The party argues that many existing districts are geographically vast and difficult to administer, which has hindered their development. Smaller administrative units, it says, will help address these challenges.
Resolution on hate crimes
Earlier, during the first phase of the budget session, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly admitted a private member’s resolution moved by Waheed-ur-Rehman Para condemning hate crimes against minorities and calling for strict enforcement of the law.
The Pulwama MLA moved the resolution amid rising incidents of targeted attacks and harassment of Kashmiri students and traders in different parts of the country.
The resolution “strongly condemns all forms of hate crimes against minorities and calls upon the Government of India and state governments to take immediate and effective measures to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such offences with strict enforcement of the law.”
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