NC-BJP confrontation mars prospectus for Panchyat, ULB polls in J&K

Arvind Sharma

Jammu Tawi, Sept 16: The preparations for the long-pending Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir appear to have slowed down and it is now almost unlikely that these elections will be held this year as was earlier expected.

Highly placed sources informed that this is all due to the political differences between the ruling National Conference (NC) in J&K and the BJP, which is the main opposition party in this UT and is also ruling at Centre.

They said that NC has taken a stand that Panchayat and ULB elections can’t be held in J&K till Statehood is restored.

There is currently no elected Panchayat or urban local body functioning at the grass roots level in Jammu and Kashmir.

The elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies have been pending for nearly three years. Expectations had grown that the polls could be held this year following the revision of electoral rolls.

However, the process has now been reportedly stalled amid differences over the timing and broader political issues, including the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood.

According to the report, Panchayat and urban local body elections have been pending since January 9, 2024.

This long delay means that people at the village and municipal levels will continue to wait for the restoration of elected local representatives which is called as the grass roots level democracy.

The issue is significant for the people of J&K because Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies deal directly with several everyday civic and development-related matters of the people.

Elected representatives at these levels play a role in raising local issues concerning roads, sanitation, water supply, drainage and other community needs and resolve them but there are no representatives at grass roots level since the last more than around 3 years.

The report also refers to the constitutional framework under the 73rd and 74th Amendments, which provides for elected Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies as important institutions of local self-government.