Voter lists revised, SEC appointment imminent, election machinery gears up in J&K
Vikram Sharma
JAMMU: After the conclusion of the Shri Amarnath Yatra on August 9, the stage appears set for the announcement of long-pending Panchayat and Municipal body elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government is expected to assess the prevailing security situation before formally declaring the poll dates.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Javid Dar today confirmed that the process for holding Panchayat elections in the Union Territory is underway and the government is keen to restore grassroots democratic institutions at the earliest.
Dismissing claims that National Conference is reluctant about Panchayat polls, Dar said the party has a strong record of conducting such elections in 1998, 2011, and 2020.
“There is a history of the National Conference. When Dr. Farooq Abdullah returned to power in 1996, Panchayat elections were held in 1998. Later in 2011, during Omar Abdullah’s tenure, I was the Minister of State and we witnessed record-breaking polling in rural areas,” he said.
Dar said the Panchayati Raj institutions have played a vital role in empowering people and ensuring accountability.
“In 2011, we saw record-breaking polling in rural areas. The concept of Panchayati Raj was strengthened then,” he said. He added that the last Panchayat elections were held in 2020, and the current government is committed to carrying the process forward.
Notably, the position of the State Election Commissioner, vacant for nearly two months, is likely to be filled soon, a step seen as a prerequisite for initiating the electoral process.
The last Panchayat and Municipal elections in the Union Territory were held in 2018. While the term of the Municipal bodies ended in November 2023, Panchayats completed their tenure in January 2024.
Elections could not be held on time due to multiple factors, including security concerns, the recent Lok Sabha polls, and the delay in finalizing the reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Now, with the sacred Amarnath pilgrimage nearing its end, the government is reportedly considering holding the elections around September or October. According to a senior administrative official, the voter list revision exercise has already been completed, clearing a key logistical hurdle.
Political parties and several Panchayat-related organizations have been actively demanding early elections, citing grassroots development and local governance needs.
To ensure a smooth and secure election process, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has reportedly urged the Union Home Ministry to extend the deployment of central security forces that were brought in from across India for the Amarnath Yatra. Their continued presence is expected to strengthen the security grid during the polls.
Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor-led administration is expected to initiate the process for appointing a new State Election Commissioner by next week. This move signals the administration’s intent to push ahead with preparations for the local body elections.
The process of revision of voter lists has also been completed and apart from various political organizations, various organizations related to Panchayats are also insisting on holding elections soon.
Keeping in mind the possibility of elections of Panchayat and Municipal bodies, the state administration has reportedly requested the Union Home Ministry to retain the security personnel sent from various states of the country to strengthen the security grid of Shri Amarnathji’s pilgrimage in the state.
However, the final green light for the elections will be given only after a thorough review of the overall law-and-order situation in the Union Territory. Given the complexity of the region and its sensitive geopolitical climate, the government is treading cautiously, balancing security imperatives with democratic processes.
Nonetheless, the post-Yatra period is emerging as a likely window for restoring grassroots-level democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir after months of delay.
