Srinagar, Feb 12, : The All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (JKPC) has called for panchayat elections to be conducted in the Union Territory within a month, urging the government to expedite the process.
JKPC president Anil Sharma criticized the delay, despite the formation of the state Election Commission, and accused authorities of neglecting grassroots democracy. He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate action, stating that the responsibility now lies directly with him.
“Earlier, we had to appeal to the Union Home Ministry due to the absence of an elected government. But now, with Omar Abdullah in power, our demand is clear—hold the elections without delay,” Sharma said.
He emphasized that past panchayat elections were successfully conducted in 2011 under Omar Abdullah’s leadership and again in 2018, even without his government in power. He argued that there is no justification for further postponement, as people are eager to elect their representatives.
