Centre may hold panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir by October after Amarnath Yatra

With an aim to boosting local representation at village-level, the Centre is planning to organise panchayat elections after the Amarnath Yatra in September or October.

The proposal of panchayat elections faced stiff resistance from the PDP-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. These polls have not been held for the last two years despite the demand from village and block level in the State.

“The panchayat polls can be held after the Amarnath Yatra as they will give voice to the people at grassroots level and help them in getting their day-to-day requirements of roads and water addressed at that level itself,” sources in the government said.

Laying stress on the need for holding polls, a one-day panchayat convention was held at Sringar on Saturday regarding these elections in the State. It was attended by more than 500 sarpanches and local representatives across the State.

Since the last two year Panchayat polls have not taken place in Jammu and Kashmir, the convention demanded, the local election should be conducted as early as possible.

All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference Chief Shafiq Mir demanded that democracy be practised on ground and there be no politics on panchayat election.

"In the last five years, more than 15 sarpanches have been killed and now time has come for local governance. we have to address local issue through panchayat election. We can get thousands crore rupees for local development through the panchayati raj institution," he said.

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