Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 10: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula, the Election Authority under Panchayati Raj Act today formally issued a notification for holding elections to the posts of chairpersons of 143 Block Development Councils on November 7. With this, the process for holding elections to the BDCs more than a year after the constitution of Panchayats, has been set into motion.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a notification inviting nominations from the eligible persons for the posts of chairpersons of the BDCs was issued this morning by the Election Authority asking the aspirants to file their papers before Assistant Returning Officers till October 17.
The elections are being held on non-party basis. The polls to BDCs, which would form second tier of Panchayats, are being held for the first time in the State.
While the candidates can file their nomination papers on or before October 17, scrutiny of documents would take place the next day while they can withdraw their nomination papers till October 20. Polling would be held on November 7 from 9 am to 3 pm while counting would start immediately after the voting.
The election is being held for 143 BDCs including 77 in Kashmir Valley and 66 in Jammu region.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has already been enforced in the State in view of the elections.
Any person of the particular Block, eligible for contesting the election of Panch, can contest the election of BDC chairperson.
The Electoral College for the BDC chairperson comprised elected Sarpanchs and Panchs.
Meanwhile, official sources have confirmed that as per the existing Panchayati Raj Act, the Government reserved the right to nominate six persons to every BDC including two members each from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe communities and two women, if they were not adequately represented in the Council.
The political observers felt that the provision could alter the very composition of the BDC with the nomination of six Government sponsored members.
The BDC would comprise an elected chairperson while its members would be Sarpanchs of the block, chairperson of Marketing/Cooperative Society in the block and six persons to be nominated by the Government including two SCs, two STs and two women.
The political observers were of the view that the nomination of six members to the BDCs would be a setback for the elected members including the BDC chairperson and the Sarpanchs, who would have an equal say in the decision making powers and could even alter the decision of the elected chairperson with the support of some other members.
The BDC members would elect one of them as vice chairperson of the Council either through election or by consensus, who would preside over meetings of the BDC in absence of the chairperson.
Even in the third tier of the Panchayats i.e. the District Development and Planning Boards, the Government would directly nominate the chairperson. The chairperson would be a Cabinet Minister in the Government. The election would be held only for the post of vice chairperson, who would be elected by the Electoral College comprising BDC chairpersons of the district, MLAs, MLCs, MP and head of Municipal body of the district.
Sources pointed out that all six nominated members of the BDC would have voting right in the Council to settle an issue. This was contrary to the provision of nominations in the Panchayats, where two Panchs proposed to be nominated by the Government, didn’t have the voting rights.
Reports from Jammu region tonight revealed that only one nomination was filed today in Duggan block of Kathua district.
The Electoral College for BDC chairpersons comprised 33,500 Sarpanchs and Panchs. Out of a total of 4098 Sarpanchs, 2145 were in Kashmir division and 1953 in Jammu division while out of 29,402 Panchs, 15,767 were in Kashmir division and 13,635 in Jammu division. Kashmir division includes Ladakh region.
The elections will be conducted through ballot boxes and ballot papers and not through the Electronic Voting Machines. Sources said the ballot papers would be used in the election, which was being held as part of the State Panchayati Raj Act. To conduct the elections, the CEO has appointed 143 Returning Officers, 145 Assistant Returning Officers, 145 Presiding and 290 Polling Officers.
The blocks for which elections would be held in Jammu district included Bishnah, RS Pura, Satwari, Marh, Bhalwal, Dansal, Akhnoor and Khour. The blocks in Samba were Samba, Vijaypur, Purmandal and Ghagwal. Kathua blocks are Lohai Malhar, Bani, Duggan, Basohli, Billawar, Hiranagar, Barnoti and Kathua while Udhampur blocks included Udhampur, Chenani, Dudu Basantgarh, Ramnagar, Ghordi, Panchari and Majalta.
The blocks for which elections would be held in Kishtwar included Kishtwar, Inderwal, Drabshalla, Paddar, Nagseni, Marwah, Warwan and Dachan while Doda blocks were Assar, Marmat, Ghat Doda, Bhagwah, Gundana, Thathri, Bhallesa and Bhaderwah. Ramban blocks are Ramban, Banihal, Ramsoo and Gool. The blocks of Reasi included Pouni, Reasi, Mahore and Arnas.
Twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch blocks, which would go to elections, were Sunderbani, Doongi, Nowshera, Manjakote, Rajouri, Thanna Mandi, Kalakote, Darhal and Budhal (all in Rajouri), Balakote, Surankote, Bafliaz, Mandi and Poonch (all in Poonch).
In Ladakh, the blocks of Leh district included Leh, Chuchot, Nobra, Panamic, Nyoma, Durbuk, Kahru, Khaltsi and Suspoi while blocks of Kargil district are Taisura, Drass, Kargil, GM Pore (Trespone), Sankoo, Shaker Chiktan, Zanskar, Lungnuk and Shargole.
The blocks of Kupwara, which would undergo elections for chairpersons, have been notified as Kupwara, Wavoora, Sogam, Ramhal, Rajwara, Langate, Kralpora, Trehgam, Tangdhar, Teetwal and Kalaroos. The Baramulla blocks are Uri, Boniyar, Rohama, Wagoora, Tangmarg, Kunzer, Rafiabad, Singhpora, Pattan, Zaingeer, Baramulla and Sopore.
The Bandipora blocks are Sumbal, Hajin, Bandipora, Gurez and Tulail while the blocks of Ganderbal are Kangan, Lar, Ganderbal and Wakura. Srinagar district has only one block of Srinagar while Budgam blocks are Budgam, Nagam, Chadoora, Beerwah, Khansahib, Khag, Narbal and BK Pora.
Blocks of Pulwama, which would elect the BDC chairpersons, included Keller (Main Block), Pulwama, Kakapora, Tral and Pampore while Shopian Blocks are Shopian and Keller Partly (Main Block in Pulwama).
Kulgam blocks notified for the elections are Qaimooh (Main Block), Pahloo, Kulgam, Devsar and DH Pora while Anantnag blocks are Qaimooh Partly (Main block in district Kulgam), Breng, Shangus, Shahabad, Khoveripora, Dachnipora, Qazigund and Achabal.
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