After consolidating its grip on the State machinery, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led alliance Government in Jammu & Kashmir on Monday gave its nod for holding Urban local Bodies (UlB) elections at the earliest. The local bodies in the State are defunct since 2010. “The Cabinet decided that the electoral process would be set into motion at the earliest in consultation with the State Chief Electoral Officer,” a spokesman of the State Government said.
Though the State Government did not prepare any timeline for the poll process but its decision to hold UlB polls may trigger fresh round of political activity in the State. The schedule of the UlB polls is expected to be announced after carrying out thorough review of security scenario in the State.
Successful completion of poll process in the State would also mean that more Central funds will be needed for development in the State. With the announcement of the polls, the synergy between the alliance partners would be put to litmus test on ground zero.
The five-year term of Jammu & Srinagar Municipal corporations, six Municipal councils and 71 Municipal committees in J&K ended in March 2010. After a gap of 30 years, the Omar Abdullah-led alliance Government successfully conducted Panchayat polls in 2011 but failed to hold UlB polls.
It is expected after the UlB polls the BJP-PDP alliance would also complete the second and third tier of Panchayati Raj in J&K by setting up Block Development Councils and District Development Councils to further strengthen the grassroot democracy in the State.