Mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday welcomed, though with a rider, the announcement of panchayat polls made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor N.N. Vohra in their Independence Day speeches.
“In the recent past, all parties except the BJP had suggested postponement of the panchayat polls in view of the situation on the ground. Even the security establishment did not favour holding them now. We are ready to be part of the exercise only if the current administration provides a conducive atmosphere and security to the candidates,” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Rafi Mir told The Hindu .
The PDP, which ruled the State along with the BJP from 2015 till June 2017, had to defer polls both for urban local bodies and panchayats twice in the past one year because of rising militancy and growing street protests in the wake of civilian killings, especially in south Kashmir.
“We are hopeful the Governor took the security scenario into consideration and sought inputs from all security agencies before making the announcement,” Mr. Mir said. National Conference provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said the administration should not take a hasty decision.
“The Governor’s administration has to ensure the situation is conducive on the ground for such an elaborate exercise,” Mr. Wani said.
Other smaller regional parties also asked the administration to move “cautiously as there was the threat of militant violence against potential candidates.”
J&K saw panchayat polls in 2011 after a gap of four decades. The fresh panchayat polls were supposed to be held in 2015.
The polls will elect over 33,849 grassroots representatives, including 4,130 sarpanchs and 29,719 panchs. Besides, there are 80 urban local bodies.
Governor Vohra on Wednesday announced that the elections for the urban local bodies will take place during September-October and the panchayat polls in phases during October-December this year.
