Polls for Block Development Councils

Why in news?
  • Elections to 316 Block Development Councils (BDCs) in J&K will be announced soon.
  • The polls are to be completed before the State is formally declared a Union Territory on October 31.
More in news
  • All necessary arrangements are in place for conducting polls.
  • Government is keen for devolution of power to panchayats so as to move towards grass roots democracy &creating new political leadership in the State.
  • The panchayat polls also unlocked the ₹2,700 crore funds earmarked for Jammu and Kashmir under the 14th Finance Commission.
  • Concerns raised over the Poll are
(1) Leaders of most political parties under detention making it difficult for them to participate in the polls.
(2) Two regional parties, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had boycotted the panchayat polls.
  • Vice-President Meet with J&K sarpanches stated
(1) Holding elections to local bodies every five years should be made mandatory.
(2) There should be no discretion or scope for the States to either postpone or advance them.
Source
The Hindu
Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 11th Sep 2019
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