The Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission (SEC) is gearing up for Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections while ruling out delimitation for Panchayat constituencies due to legal constraints.
State Election Commissioner, B R Sharma, while speaking to JK News Point, confirmed that the Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commission is conducting elections for the first time since its establishment.
“Delimitation of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is under consideration, delimitation for Panchayats is not feasible at this stage. As per the Panchayati Raj Act, delimitation can only take place after a census,” he said.
Sharma also outlined the updated election schedule, stating that objections to voter lists will be accepted until December 20, 2024.
“The final publication of Panchayat voter lists, earlier set for January 6, has now been postponed to January 15, 2025,” he added
Special voter registration camps are being held on December 14 and 15 across all polling stations and Panchayat Halqas to ensure the inclusion of all eligible voters.
Congress leaders have demanded a stronger role for the State Election Commission in conducting elections efficiently, underscoring the need for transparency and accuracy in the process.
Political parties, including the BJP, Congress, and National Conference, have ramped up their preparations, with strategy meetings and grassroots outreach programs in full swing. Independent candidates, too, have initiated door-to-door campaigns ahead of the anticipated polls.
The elections, slated to begin in March 2025, will be the first grassroots democratic exercise in almost six years in Jammu and Kashmir.
The polls are expected to span two months, with a gap of 15 days to a month between Panchayat and ULB elections. Unlike the nine-phase Panchayat elections of 2018, the elections this time may be conducted in four to six phases, depending on the prevailing security situation.
Additionally, a committee tasked with determining reservation quotas for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is set to submit its report by the end of December 2024. This report will finalize reservation allocations based on population proportions. Women will continue to have a 33% reservation, while Scheduled Castes (SCs) will have seats reserved according to their population share.
The elections come after significant delays caused by weather conditions, security concerns, and overlapping schedules with Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. With the Panchayat term having ended in January 2023 and the ULB term in November 2022, the polls are seen as a critical step toward restoring grassroots governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
March 2025 is being considered ideal for the elections, with improved weather conditions likely to normalize life in high-altitude areas, ensuring smooth execution of the democratic process.
