J&K Panchayat, DDC polls face fresh uncertainty

SRINAGAR — The proposed Panchayat and District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir face fresh uncertainty after the Government reportedly did not respond by the August 31 deadline set by the State Election Commission (SEC) for initiating the electoral process if the polls were to be held this year.

According to a report published by Daily Excelsior, the SEC had sought the government’s response by the end of August on whether to proceed with the election process.

The reported lack of a response has raised questions over whether the long-pending rural local body elections can be conducted within the current year.

The SEC, however, is expected to remain engaged with the government on the issue, indicating that the process has not been formally abandoned.

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Panchayat bodies have remained without elected representatives since their five-year term expired in January 2024, while the term of the DDCs ended in February this year.

The government had earlier maintained that it was committed to restoring elected local bodies, while the SEC has been undertaking preparatory exercises, including revision of electoral rolls and assessment of administrative and logistical requirements.

The latest development has revived uncertainty over the timeline for restoring the three-tier rural local governance structure in Jammu and Kashmir.