Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled from March 5, have been postponed due to security reasons. The government has cited the law and order situation in the state for the move. This is in contrary to its claims of normalcy returning in the area.

By-election to over 12,500 panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir was scheduled to be held in eight phases from March 5. The Model Code of Conduct came into force with the announcement of the bypolls on Thursday.

The election for a local government was expected to be the first big political exercise since the state was bifurcated into two union territories.

He said this step was taken after inputs given to him by the home department over security issues.

The officials are expected to come with a fresh schedule soon after addressing all the concerns suitably.

The last panchayat election was held in Jammu and Kashmir in November 2018 – months after the ruling coalition between the BJP and Mehbooba Mufti collapsed and the state was placed under Governor’s Rule. Assembly elections have not been held since, and Jammu and Kashmir continues to be under Central rule.

The National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had boycotted these polls and there were many places where no candidate had filed nomination papers. Over 12,000 seats were left vacant from that poll, which were expected to be filled now.
Three former J&K chief ministers — NC’s Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti– are under detention since last year when the Centre had abrogated Article 370 provisions of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and split it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Reacting to the postponement of Panchayat polls, Iltija Mufti, daughter of Mehbooba Mufti said, ” The exercise of carrying out Panchayat polls would have been a complete sham, especially when they have moved former CMs to a different jail. And hold elections when there are fear and repression. It just shows that the Indian Government is not clear-headed. But it is a good decision, not to hold polls.”