Jammu and Kashmir will have its first direct elections since the state lost special status and was split into two Union Territories on Augu...
Jammu and Kashmir will have its first direct elections since the state lost special status and was split into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. It will also see Kashmiri regional parties re-entering electoral politics after a long hiatus.
The elections, to be held in eight phases starting November 28, are a step to setting up district development councils, a new addition to Jammu and Kashmir’s panchayati raj system. Elections to vacant panchayat seats will also be held at the same time.
Announcing the dates earlier this month, state election commissioner KK Sharma said, “DDC elections will be held on party basis whereas Panchayat by-elections will be held on a non-political basis.”
After much deliberation, the People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration, a conglomeration of mostly Kashmiri parties, has decided to contest the district development council polls. The alliance, formally announced in October after leaders of several parties met at the home of National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Srinagar’s Gupkar Road, aims to restore statehood and special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Most of its leaders had been imprisoned for about a year after the Centre announced its August 5 decisions.
On November 7, a statement by the alliance announced it would “fight the DDC elections unitedly”...
