J&K Urban Local Body Elections Await Delimitation Completion: Lt. Governor Sinha Addresses Future Plans
Jammu, 14-11-2023 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, announced on Tuesday that elections for urban local bodies (ULBs) in the region would be conducted after the completion of the delimitation exercise for wards and the reservation of wards for Other Backward Classes. The announcement was made during a felicitation ceremony for the councilors of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), marking the end of their five-year term.
During the ceremony, Lt. Governor Sinha praised the councilors for their dedicated service to the people, particularly during the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the common public and elected representatives, urging them to work together in synergy and focus on resource generation.
Highlighting the delayed implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt. Governor Sinha pointed out that despite the challenges, the Union territory administration has ensured the basic principles of decentralization of decision-making and development. He noted that more departments and responsibilities have been transferred to elected representatives since August 2019, when Article 370 was revoked, and Jammu and Kashmir were bifurcated into two Union territories.
Lt. Governor Sinha also stressed that ULBs in Jammu and Kashmir have been provided with greater financial resources to facilitate strong and accountable self-government, ensuring a holistic ecosystem for last-mile access to services.
Officials from the housing and urban development department are actively pursuing communication from the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO). The CEO’s office has suggested the transfer of the mandate to conduct municipal electoral processes to the State Election Commission (SEC) in accordance with constitutional provisions. The CEO is currently the authority to hold ULB elections, Lok Sabha, and assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, while the SEC, headed by a state election commissioner, is mandated to conduct elections for Panchayati Raj institutions.
In a letter to the housing and urban development department, the CEO’s office highlighted the need to transfer the mandate to the SEC following the appointment of a full-time state election commissioner. The constitutional provisions mandate this change, according to the letter. The last ULB and panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir took place between October and December 2018 after a significant delay.
