The long-delayed Panchayat and District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir have triggered a fresh political row, with the State Election Commission (SEC) warning that any further delay could push the polls to 2027.
A decision by the month-end would allow the electoral process to move forward, with voting potentially taking place in October-November, according to the commission. The SEC has asked the government to take a clear decision by the end of August if the elections are to be held this year.
The timing of the elections has also become linked to the restoration of statehood, with senior National Conference leader and party spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq saying the government would respond to the SEC at the “appropriate time”. Tanvir Sadiq, National Conference chief spokesperson, said, “The report will come at the appropriate time, the way Delhi keeps telling us about the appropriate time for statehood. “We were told that delimitation and then statehood would be restored. BJP leader Altaf Thakur said, “National Conference has only one excuse, and that is statehood. He said the absence of elected Panchayati Raj institutions was affecting development in rural areas, particularly the flow and implementation of funds meant for local bodies. Hanjura said Panchayat elections were essential for democracy and criticised the government for failing to take a decision despite the SEC indicating that preparations were ready. “The Election Commission has said that it is all set to hold the elections, but the government has not taken any decision. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that elections will happen at the appropriate time. Just as the BJP says the appropriate time to restore statehood, Omar Abdullah says Panchayat elections will be held at the appropriate time. I want these Panchayat elections to be held as soon as possible,” he said.
The same way, we will give it to the Election Commission. Jammu and Kashmir has an elected government. It’s a majority government, and the government has many demands from the Centre which have not been fulfilled. It is still not done. Statehood is important. Are they waiting for a BJP government to come to power and then give us statehood? The BJP will never come to power in Jammu and Kashmir. Is the National Conference stopping the development of Jammu and Kashmir for just one reason of statehood? The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has also demanded that the elections be held without further delay. PDP leader G.H. When will this appropriate time be?
