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These panchayat polls may also pave the way for the restoration of statehood to J&K, the Omar Abdullah government hopes
(From left) J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, PM Narendra Modi and CM Omar Abdullah during a public meeting, at Sonamarg, in Ganderbal district, J&K. (PMO/PTI)(PTI01_13_2025_000320B)
The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) panchayat polls could be held this April-May after a gap of seven years, government sources have told News18. The final electoral rolls for these panchayat polls were published last month on January 20.
Now, moving a step ahead, the State Election Commission (SEC), Union Territory of J&K, has sought the procurement of election material which will be needed for the said polls.
News18 has accessed a document in which the SEC is seeking procurement of nearly 40,000 voting compartments and 64 other items required for conducting the panchayat elections.
The deadline of finalising the said contract is March 11, and the items are to be supplied within a month thereafter. There are a total of 38,800 polling stations in J&K, including 18,700 in the Jammu division and 20,100 in Kashmir division.
With the term of the previous panchayats ending in 2023, almost over a year ago, the upcoming elections are expected to reshape the grassroots governance and politics in the region, marking a significant step in J&K’s evolving political landscape after the abrogation of Article 370.
After the conduct of panchayat and urban body polls, all democratic processes, including those at the grassroots level, will be completed in J&K post abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
These panchayat polls may also pave the way for the restoration of statehood to J&K, the Omar Abdullah government hopes. These panchayat polls will be held with reservation in panchayats for backward classes as per the State Re-Organisation Act.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been impressing upon the Centre for earliest restoration of statehood to J&K.
Abdullah had made a public request about that to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the PM’s visit to J&K to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel recently, and the PM had assured that decisions will be made at the correct time.
