SEC Reviews Poll Readiness as J&K Moves Closer to Panchayat, DDC Elections
JAMMU, May 31 (KNC): Preparations for the long-awaited Panchayat and District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir have gathered momentum, with the State Election Commission (SEC) scheduling high-level review meetings on June 3 and 4 to assess poll preparedness across the Union Territory.
Official sources said State Election Commissioner Shantmanu will chair separate meetings with election authorities from Jammu and Kashmir divisions. The Jammu division review will be held physically on June 3, while officials from the Kashmir division will join a virtual meeting on June 4.
The meetings will be attended by District Election Officers (DEOs) and other senior officials to evaluate logistical, administrative and electoral arrangements required for the smooth conduct of Panchayat and DDC polls.
Sources said elections to all tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) cannot be conducted simultaneously due to legal provisions governing Block Development Councils (BDCs). Since BDC members are elected indirectly by elected Panchs and Sarpanchs, Panchayat elections must be completed before BDC elections can take place.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is expected to take a decision soon on the recommendations submitted by the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission, a key requirement for conducting local body elections. The report is likely to be placed before the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
The OBC Commission, headed by Justice (Retd.) Janak Raj Kotwal, had submitted its report in February 2025 regarding reservation for OBCs in Panchayats, Municipalities, BDCs and DDCs. Finalisation of the reservation framework is considered essential before election notifications are issued.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without elected Panchayats since January 2024, while municipal bodies completed their tenure in late 2023. The term of DDCs ended in February 2026, leaving all tiers of grassroots local governance without elected representatives.
In a significant development, the SEC has recently completed the revision of Panchayat electoral rolls. The updated voter list comprises more than 72.24 lakh electors, including over 3.39 lakh newly enrolled voters. The final electorate consists of 36.62 lakh male voters, 35.61 lakh female voters and 141 third-gender voters.
The upcoming review meetings are being seen as a crucial step towards holding grassroots democratic elections in Jammu and Kashmir after a prolonged gap. (KNC)
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