Decks getting cleared for panchayat, municipal elections
Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission submitted its final recommendations to the government regarding proportional reservations to other backward classes (OBCs) in rural and urban local bodies. Till now the OBCs were having no such reservation in Jammu and Kashmir. After the submission of the report, the government will have to take a decision on the recommendations made. Once the decision is taken, a process will be set into motion to implement the decisions and go for the local bodies elections. The government has already announced that the polls will be held this year.
The elections have become imperative since municipal bodies, panchayats and block development councils (BDCs) in J&K are without elected representatives for more than a year now. The term of municipalities ended in October-November 2023, while that of the panchayats and BDCs in January, 2024. Last time, the panchayat and municipal polls were held in 2018, BDCs in 2019 and District Development Council Elections in 2020.
National Conference and PDP had not contested the panchayat, municipal and BDCs elections. But later expressed regret for not having taken part. However, they jointly contested the District Development Council polls along with some other parties in Kashmir and re-established their grip on political scene. Later, the parties contested the 2024 assembly polls separately but NC and Congress formed a pre- poll alliance.
Like last time the panchayat polls are likely to be held on non- party basis, while as the municipal and BDC elections on party basis.
It is to be seen when exactly the elections for panchayat, municipalities and BDCs are held this year. Whenever held, the exercises will be highly important for the political parties to try and get the space in grassroots level democracy.
The ruling National Conference (NC) will try to continue to dominate the election scene in Kashmir, Poonch and Rajouri districts and parts of Chenab Valley as it did in assembly polls last year. The opposition parties on their part would not like to repeat the poor performance of assembly polls but would try to improve it. To what extent they can do so will become clear at the election time. Local bodies' elections are usually fought on local issues but other major political issues too create influence. The NC will try to highlight what its government has done after it was formed. The opposition on its part would corner the ruling party on what was not done despite it needed to have been done. The opposition in Kashmir has already started saying that NC has abandoned its political agenda to please BJP and restoration of Article 370 and 35-A are no longer a priority for the ruling party. The thrust of the opposition MLAs from Kashmir in the ongoing legislative assembly session also remained on this issue.
However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his reply to discussion on motion of thanks on Lieutenant Governor's address defended his government approach. Quoting rules, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said why more resolutions for restoration of special status can not be permitted and discussed in this assembly session. In his reply Chief Minister reiterated and defended his party stand on all issues and said NC will keep all the promises made with the people during elections.
While keeping the coming local bodies elections in mind, the treasury and opposition benches in the assembly are trying to send positive signals in their favour to the people. Opposition of Kashmir is attempting to create an impression that there is a behind the scene understanding between NC and BJP. But NC has been denying any such understanding. Its leadership has said that their government having a good working relationship with the central government does not mean it having good relations with the BJP. According to them NC government is not in favour of any unnecessary confrontation with the centre as such a scenario is not in the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
During the proceedings in assembly the ruling party leaders ensure that they should not give any chance to opposition to create an impression that they are totally non-functional in dual power system and that they are not able to deliver. They keep on saying that they will deliver within their jurisdiction but they should not be blamed for what is not within their limits. The NC government has been reiterating its demand for the restoration of statehood so that their government gets all powers and works as per the satisfaction of the people.
Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir
