With Panchayat and Local Bodies elections approaching, different political parties started political exercises; GOI wants to strengthen grassroots democratic institutions

With Panchayat and Local Bodies elections approaching, different political parties started political exercises; GOI wants to strengthen grassroots democratic institutions

POONCH TODAY NEWS

POONCH: The other day, the Chief Electoral Officer of J&K said that this financial year, elections will be held for Panchayats, Local Bodies, and the Lok Sabha as preparations for the same were in full swing. Various political parties have started formulating strategies to perform better in these elections. “POONCH TODAY” a few months ago published that the BJP was not in favour of going to assembly elections first as the party wanted to test its popularity first through Panchayat and Local Bodies elections. The same is likely to happen because the statement of CEO J&K was an indication that the conduct of assembly elections has not been finalized yet. Those political parties in J&K that objected to the abrogation of temporary Articles 370 and 35 A are likely to take part in these elections, as is visible from their silent preparations. This is also an indication that they have accepted the abrogation of temporary Articles 370 and 35 A and want to move forward politically. The BJP in the UT of J&K wants to form its first-ever government at any cost after the conduct of assembly elections, but before that, the party is weighing all options to cover those areas that are still weak for the party. So, the think tank of the BJP is not in favour of going to assembly elections directly and wants to check the public pulse through Panchayat and Local Bodies elections. It is important to mention here that after decades, the union government conducted elections to all three tiers of Panchayati Raj institutions in an attempt to bring democracy to the people’s doorsteps. Elections to BDC and DDC were held for the first time, and it shows that the union government wanted to empower grassroots democratic institutions. Kashmir-based political parties, which ruled J&K for decades, never allowed the strengthening of democratic institutions at the grass-roots level, but after the abrogation of temporary articles 370 and 35 A, J&K has witnessed a massive transformation from a political and developmental point of view. Now that the J&K UT government has started the process of further strengthening the grassroots democratic institution, it is highly likely that all the political parties of J&K are expected to take part in the coming democratic exercise, as elections are likely to be held on a party basis.