OpinionsRevisiting Democracy via Panchayats

Revisiting Democracy via Panchayats

Date:

Satwant Singh Rissam

 

2018 has already started and all political parties in J&K are now preparing for their first political test of the year. Yes, I am talking of panchayat elections for which all parties have geared up and a drive for it has begun in and . All political parties in state have set their eyes on these upcoming polls because it is believed that very shortly these polls may be announced in the state.  In our democracy, these panchayats play a vital role in taking forward the all-round developmental agenda of the governments. Now if I talk of the political importance of these elections in Jammu & Kashmir, then results of this election will reflect the social standing of all political parties in J&K.

 

Before going further, let me remind you that it was after panchayat elections in 2011, the panchayats were constituted in our state and they have already completed their five-year term in July 2016. So by now, it must be clear to you that this institution of Indian democracy is suffering nearly for more than one and a half year in Jammu & Kashmir. This delay has already caused so much suffering since in absence of panchayats developmental works at the grass root level is totally been neglected. Panchayat system in the state got instable for many reasons and some of it was purely political. Till some weeks back it was believed that these elections are not on priority of present state government. However, as the central government has blocked many grants running into crores to Jammu and Kashmir, the state government was forced to declare that these elections will be conducted soon.

 

It is pertinent mention here that, though this election mood has erupted in past some weeks but a big amendment in the year 2016 was brought in the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 by the PDP-BJP government. With this change, now sarpanch of every respective panchayat will be elected by the panchs and because of this, elections are being held only for the post of panchs. Here I think that PDP-BJP government has in a way created a new system within a system by changing the basic spirit of panchayats. This indirect election of sarpanchs in a way is being questioned by many as it has helped in reducing the accountability on the part of sarpanchs. It has also created doubt in minds of people over the intent of the PDP-BJP government. However, the present PDP-BJP government claims that this move is made only to make easy the election of sarpanchs and government is committed to empowerment of grass root level institutions. But overall this thing hasn't gone well with main opposition parties like Conference & Congress because if we go back to 2011, the National Conference-Congress government then had gone for direct election of the sarpanchs.

 

In spite of this all, when panchayat elections process starts then I believe that this time Jammu region & Kashmir region will have entirely different social issues on which these elections will be contested by candidates. On one hand, in Jammu the Congress party is all prepared to corner the BJP over many issues. Basically, slogan of “nationalism and integration” of BJP is going to suffer as the BJP approved to hold such indirect elections to panchayats. Furthermore, elections are being held without fully extending the 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution to J&K state. These all matters may very well be exploited by all the opposition parties based in Jammu. On the other hand in Kashmir, the situation is totally contrasted and no excitement by now is seen for this election there. The unrest seen after the killing of Burhan Wani has altogether changed the political ground in Kashmir of all parties. In addition to it, militancy in past some months has got glamorized through social media and result of which is that many educated youth are joining militants with the latest case of a PhD scholar of Aligarh Muslim University coming into limelight.  Finally, I may remind you that a provocative battle too has got started as militants in Kashmir have issued threat of throwing acid in eyes of all those who contest these elections. It all doesn't end here; even the Hurriyat leadership has urged the people in Kashmir to boycott these elections.

 

This time there are many factors which may influence these elections and political battle may heat up soon as days pass. These elections are like a gamble amid tense political situation in Kashmir. Especially, at a time when the central government failed to conduct parliamentary polls in home turf of PDP. But with assembly polls lined up this year in many states across , it would be a key political matter for the BJP. Eventually our state will be revisiting democracy via panchayats & I wish something don't go wrong midway. Following all this, it will be quite interesting to see how these elections go during an atmosphere when discontent has grown against PDP-BJP in both regions.

 

 

Northlines
Northlines
The Northlines is an independent source on the Web for news, facts and figures relating to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and its neighbourhood.

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