Prior to APM, Governor again calls for early Panchayat, ULB polls

CM to chair All Party Meet now

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 1: Two days ahead of All Party Meeting (APM) convened by the Government on holding of Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor NN Vohra today called for holding early elections to both Panchayats and Municipalities for promoting the people’s welfare. He again called for “transparent and accountable’’ functioning of the administrative system and eradication of “inefficient and corrupt elements’’.
The Governor conveyed this to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti when she called on him at Raj Bhawan here today.
The Governor’s directions assumed significance as the State Government has called an APM comprising all recognized political parties of the State on February 3, which now will be chaired by Chief Minister herself, to discuss Panchayat elections in the State, which were pending for last more than one and a half years.
“The Governor called for early establishment of Urban and Rural self-governing democratic institutions (Municipalities and Panchayats) at the grass-root level for promoting the people’s welfare,’’ a Raj Bhawan spokesman quoted the Governor as saying after the meeting with Mehbooba Mufti.
He said the Governor and the Chief Minister discussed time-frame for conduct of elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies.
Earlier, the Government had announced that Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Abdul Haq Khan would chair the APM, which has invited sharp criticism from some of the Opposition parties, which wanted the Chief Minister to preside over the meeting.
Khan informed the Assembly today that Mehbooba will chair the APM now to seek views of all political parties in the State regarding conduct of Panchayat elections.
During her earlier meeting with the Governor, Mehbooba had announced that Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir will start from February 15. However, that deadline is all set to be missed as the Rural Development Department had not written to the State Election Commission (SEC) so far to conduct the elections though the SEC was fully prepared for undertaking the exercise.
Some of the Opposition parties have conveyed their displeasure over the APM being chaired by the Rural Development Minister saying the meeting could have been convened by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti herself.
Sources said the Government wants to take Opposition parties into confidence on whether to go ahead with the Panchayat elections or not taking in view the security, law and order and border situation, besides other aspects.
During her meeting with Mehbooba Mufti, Vohra reiterated his concern about the vital importance of ensuring “transparent and accountable’’ functioning of the administrative system and eradication of “inefficient and corrupt elements’’.
The Governor has made similar call during her previous meeting with the Chief Minister.
“Ongoing budget session of the Legislature and issues of internal security management also figured during discussions between the Governor and the Chief Minister,’’ the spokesman said.
The relief arrangements made for the border people, who had to leave their houses due to continued mortar shelling and firing by Pakistani troops were reviewed. Implementation of development projects was also discussed.
Meanwhile, reliable sources said, not only the Governor but the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was also keen that elections to Panchayats followed by the Urban Local Bodies should be held in Jammu and Kashmir to restore grass-root level institutions in the State.
While Panchayat elections were pending for last one and a half years, the Municipal elections haven’t been held in the State during last eight years, which has resulted into blockade of Central funds running into thousands of crores for the State especially the grants, which are given directly to the elected Panchayats and Municipalities.
Sources said the All Party Meeting on Panchayats on February 3 could be crucial as the Government wants that all political parties should be on board on the decision taken to hold, or delay, the Panchayat elections in the State.
It may be mentioned here that the Election Authority for Panchayats has already converted number of Panch constituencies in every Panchayat to odd numbers to facilitate smooth election of Sarpanchs. Some of the Panchayats would have seven Panch constituencies and others nine.
“This will help in easy conduct of Sarpanch election, who will be elected by the Panchs. In 2011, the then National Conference-Congress Government had gone for direct election of the Sarpanchs but the previous PDP-BJP Government has opted for indirect elections. Now, the elections will be held only for Panchs while the Panchs would elect their Sarpanch,’’ sources said, pointing out that even number of Panch segments might have lead to tie in some cases during election of Panchayats, leading to problems. However, the odd number of Panch segments would help in smooth election of Sarpanchs.
They added that number of the Panchayats, where elections will be held, have gone up to 4490 as compared to 4130 in 2011.
Sources said the Election Department has also finalized voter lists for the Panchayat elections. Number of the electorates for Panchayat elections has come out at around 57 lakh after extensive exercise undertaken by the Election Department for updating electoral rolls.

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