Panchayat, Municipal polls in J&K after decision on percentage of reservation for OBCs

Srinagar, Oct 3: Panchayat and municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held after a decision is taken by the government on the percentage of seats to be reserved for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Till now the OBCs were having no reservation in panchayats, municipalities, block development councils (BDC) and district development councils (DDCs).

After the successful conduct of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the focus has now shifted towards holding of panchayat and municipal elections.

Official sources said the concerned authorities are ready for the panchayat and municipal elections. However, the elections can be held only after a decision on the percentage of reservation to OBCs.

The government in June had formed a Dedicated Backward Classes Commission for facilitating reservation to OBCs in local bodies. Later, its chairman and members were also appointed. The commission will submit its recommendations to the government and accordingly a decision will be taken.

Earlier, the Parliament had passed a bill in February this year for providing reservation to the OBcs in Panchayats, municipalities, BDCs and DDCs.

Last year, the parliament had also made amendments in J&K Reservation Law to rechristen the “Weak and Underprivileged classes” (social castes) as “other backward classes”.

Panchayats and municipalities had completed their five year term in October-November last year. There were reports that their elections will be held last year only before the assembly polls. But this could not happen. Later, a process was started to give reservation to OBCs in the panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). After the completion of this process, the polls can be held.

When the panchayat and municipal polls were held in 2018, the government at that time said that the democracy was taken in true sense to the grass roots level since the people participated in a big way. Panchayat polls were held on non-party basis.  It was projected as a major boost for the democracy. Two major political parties National Conference (NC) and PDP had boycotted the elections but later they regretted for having not contested and leaving the space for others.  However, their opponents alleged that the two parties had fielded proxy candidates in some areas. Both NC and PDP were being criticised for boycotting the panchayat and municipal polls but demanding assembly polls.

Their rivals alleged that they were not interested in strengthening the democracy at the grass roots level. They blamed the two parties for sabotaging any move to strengthen the democracy and empower the common people democratically on the ground. Later polls were also held for BDCs and DDCs.

However, NC, PDP and some other parties jointly contested the DDCs polls. But they fought separately the parliamentary and assembly polls this year.

Panchayat elections were held in 2011 also after a gap of 10 years through secret ballot. However, at that time it was being alleged that the exercise was not conducted properly and comprehensively and had certain loopholes. That is why the 2018 panchayat polls got prominence.