Tony demands holding of Panchayat, Local Bodies polls without delay

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 20: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for their apparent fear of facing the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Taranjit Singh Tony, JKPCC General Secretary and District Development Council (DDC) member from Suchetgarh demanded holding of Panchayat and Local Bodies polls without any delay.
In a statement issued here today, Tony said that sensing a great humiliating defeat was the main reason of delaying the polls in the Union Territory.
He stated that BJP’s reluctance to embrace the electoral process stemmed from their apprehension of a possible electoral debacle.
Tony accused the BJP of “crushing democracy” by denying the people of J&K the right to elect their representatives and asserted that BJP leadership is afraid of its devastation in the polls and that is why it is giving baseless alibis justifying arbitrary delay in the conduct of polls.
He underscored that the BJP’s hesitation was not merely a tactical maneuver but a blatant disregard for the principles of democratic governance.
“The BJP is afraid of losing elections miserably, that is why the Modi Government is shying away from elections,” Tony said.
“If the situation is conducive for Parliament elections, then the situation is very much conducive for Panchayat elections,” he said.
Tony said that the BJP’s delay in holding elections is a sign that the party is not interested in democracy.
“They are ruling J&K through the backdoor and the arrogant bureaucracy is not interested in addressing people’s issues,” he said.
He called on the people of J&K to rise up against the BJP’s “anti-democratic” policies.
“Bakra ki Maa Kab tak khair mnanaye Gi’…one day BJP has to face the consequences of wrong doings,” he emphasised.