2025: A year of grassroots level democracy
While the 2024 was the year of parliamentary and assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, 2025 is turning to be the year of grassroots level democracy. The government has decided to hold the panchayat and urban local bodies (ULBs) elections this year. The process set into motion for the purpose is making headway. The J&K State Election Commission on January 20 published the final panchayat electoral rolls. More steps required for holding the elections are to be followed and will be accordingly taken, reports say. However, panchayat elections or ULBs polls will be held only after the government takes a decision on the recommendations, to be given by Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission, regarding reservation for the other back classes ( OBCs) in the local bodies. Till now the OBCs had no reservation in the local bodies. Parliament early last year passed a bill for giving reservation to them and accordingly the commission was constituted to give its recommendations.
Panchayat elections were last held in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. While the polls were held on non-party basis, major political parties in Kashmir, National Conference (NC) and PDP had decided not to participate. The parties also did not contest the urban local bodies elections which were held on party basis. The move by NC and PDP had come under severe criticism. Later the two parties publicly regretted not having taken part and leaving the political space to others.
The central government described as a big achievement the conducting of panchayat and municipal polls and said the democracy was taken to grassroots level and common people were empowered democratically. NC and PDP were accused of showing interest in assembly polls only and deliberately ignoring the local bodies elections. The two major parties also stayed away from Block Development Council polls but later took part in district development council elections.
Now the NC and PDP have already announced to contest the coming panchayat and municipal polls and are in the process of making necessary preparations for it. This time the elections will be held when there is an elected NC government in the union territory.
Political observers say that the assembly polls and local bodies elections are fought differently. But even then the ruling party would try to get the benefit of assembly poll result and continue with winning trend. On the other hand the opposition parties would try to corner the NC on various issues. Opposition has been alleging that NC government is not delivering on its poll promises and has resorted to an appeasement policy towards central government. However, NC leadership says that they formed the government only a few months back and that their government needs time to deliver and keep its promises.
It is to be seen whether NC is able to continue its dominance in Kashmir and areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts besides the Chenab Valley as it did in assembly polls. BJP too has to keep its strong domination maintained in its stronghold of Jammu. Will NC be able to make any inroads in such areas now since the party is in power?
Congress was a pre-poll alliance partner to NC in assembly polls. But its performance was poor in Jammu region. Though the party is supporting the NC government but it is not part of the government. There are also reports of a political disconnect between the two parties. In view of the emerging scenario both NC and Congress may fight local bodies elections separately. This can be an advantage to PDP in many areas. Other political parties like Apni Party and Democratic Progressive Azad Party, who could not get any seat in assembly polls, would try to improve their performance in panchayat and ULBs elections. BJP, which did not win any seat in Kashmir in assembly polls too would try its luck again this time.
So almost all political parties will be in action for the panchayat and ULBs polls. Their activities will gain momentum once the election dates are announced.
Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir