PDP-BJP Govt all set to hijack Panchayat elections in J&K: PCC

PCC leader Ravinder Sharma addressing press conference in Jammu on Thursday. —Excelsior/Rakesh
PCC leader Ravinder Sharma addressing press conference in Jammu on Thursday. —Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: Apprehending more Kalakote like clashes over the rising public resentment  on segregation of mohallas and wards from various Panchayats as per convenience of  workers from ruling parties  in  various tehsils and blocks, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) today alleged that PDP-BJP Coalition’ was trying to hijack the coming  Panchayat elections in the State.
Addressing a press conference here today,  PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, who was flanked by PCC general secretaries -Vikram Malhotra and  Manmohan Singh said that Govt has started undeclared delimitation of various Panchayats/ Wards  in the State and moreover,  in the absence of   Independent  Election Commis-sion as per 73rd  Amendment Act, the elections are being held in the State. He said it is mockery to have delimitation of  over 36,000 Panchayat Halqas in just one week of time.
The way this  Govt  is going for the ‘so called’ Panchayat elections in hush- hush manner,  it creates doubt in the minds of the people of  this State about its credibility, fairness and transparency  in this   election process.  As per the 73rd Amendment  incorporated on March 14, 2011 , there is provision of reservation for women, SC/STs at each level from Panch to Sarpanch, chairpersons of the Blocks and District Boards.  It also reveals that  delimitation of wards / Panchayats shall be conducted by the Election Authority. Earlier,  prior to  amendment  the authority was Chief Electoral Officer  but now under Amendment Act,  the Election Authority for this purpose is ” State Election Commission” , which was not constituted by the Govt  for the vested interests.  Now this job is being performed by the CEO and officials of the RDD who are under the influence of BJP and PDP leaders and are following their dictates.  The Act also provides that if a serving IAS officer is appointed as State Election Commissioner, he shall be deemed to have retried on superannuation from the date of resumption of  office charge.
The PCC leaders urged upon the State Governor and the Election Authority to do everything possible in ensuring the legality, transparency and fairness in the entire exercise to  maintain the faith of general public.  The Govt must also set up Finance Commission which is mandatory  before going for these elections.  They also alleged that Government has not taken the opposition parties into confidence before going  for the Panchayat elections in the State. The indirect election of Sarpanchs will give rise to horse-trading/ corruption for which the double standards of the BJP stood exposed, they added.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here