Process initiated after appointment of SEC
Arvind Sharma
Jammu Tawi, Feb 19: The elections for the much awaited panchayats and the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) are most likely to be held in September or October this year as the weather in both Jammu and Kashmir regions is suitable for holding these elections for putting in place the grass roots level democracy.
Sources said that Shantmanu has been appointed as State Election Commissioner (SEC) and the process for holding Panchayat and ULBs elections in J&K has been started.
The Pratham Puja ceremony for the holy Amarnath Yatra will be held on 29th of June during Jayestha Purnima. However, the highly placed sources informed, “the security forces will be here in J&K for the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra and the government is planning to hold panchayat and ULB elections due since the last around 3 years”.
The government wants to hold panchayat and ULB elections in a fair and in a transparent manner this year as the security forces will be available here in J&K sent for ensuring smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra.
The security forces will be here in J&K for ensuring smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra 2026 and the government has decided to hold Panchayat and ULB elections in September or October this year so that the elections are conducted in a fair and in a transparent way, reliable sources informed.
It may be mentioned that the three-tier grass roots level democracy in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will no more be there after 24th of this month as the term of all the 280 members of the District Development Councils (DDCs), including twenty (20) Chairmen, is going to expire on 24th of February this year.
The elections for the ULBs and the panchayats in the UT of J&K were held in 2020 after the implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment in 2019.
It may be mentioned that the term of ULBs expired around 2 years back, while the term of Block Development Councils (BDCs) also expired around 2 years back. The term of Panchs and Sarpanchs also expired in 2024.
It was for the first time that the elections for the ULBs and the panchayats were held in J&K for strengthening grass roots level democracy in J&K in 2020 after the implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment of the Indian Constitution.
