Jammu And Kashmir Panchayat Elections Put Off Despite BJP's Insistence

Sources say the central government was very keen to hold elections and had kept 400 more companies or about 40,000 personnel of paramilitary forces for these polls. But given the ground situation, the PDP leadership has told chief minister that it's not possible for them to go for polls. The recent civilian killings have further exacerbated the situation.

All India | | Updated: February 05, 2018 01:18 IST
Jammu And Kashmir Panchayat Elections Put Off Despite BJP's Insistence

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti received feedback on ground situation in the valley.

Srinagar:  Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled to be held from 15th of this month are unlikely to be conducted due to adverse security situation in most parts of Kashmir, the state government decided on Sunday after an all-party meeting. The decision, however, put the ruling Peoples Democratic Party or PDP at odds with its alliance partner BJP - the only major party in the state that wanted the polls to be held as scheduled.

Sources have told NDTV that the state government had decided to defer the polls for an unspecified period after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti received feedback about the ground situation in the valley.

"I represented the PDP in the meeting and my view was that a fresh assessment is required and elections should be held at appropriate time. Not now," said Rafi Ahmad Mir, the Chief Spokesman of PDP.

Sources say the central government was very keen to hold elections and had kept 400 more companies or about 40,000 personnel of paramilitary forces for these polls. But given the ground situation, the PDP leadership has told Chief Minister that it's not possible for them to go for polls. The recent civilian killings have further exacerbated the situation.

The main opposition party National Conference also agrees that security situation is just not conducive. "We don't think the situation is conducive for holding these elections," said Ali Mohammad Sagar, General Secretary National Conference.

Last year, the Anantnag parliament by-elections were cancelled after large scale violence and an embarrassing five per cent voter turnout in Srinagar Parliamentary by polls.

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Sources said the BJP and Jammu-based Panthers party insisted that the elections should be held. They even suggested that elections can be separately held in Jammu and Ladakh if the situation in Kashmir was not conducive. Sources told NDTV that the Chief Minister has been under tremendous pressure from top BJP leadership and central government to hold these elections.

"In J&K, the situation is conducive except in a few regions. Panchayat elections should be held as soon as possible. We have given our feedback in the meeting. Now it's up to the Chief Minister to take a decision," said Sat Sharma, state BJP president.