Jammu And Kashmir State Election Commission Announces Block Development Council Elections thestatesman.com

The recent announcement is seen as a move to create a new set of grass-root level leaders since most of the local leaders including former chief ministers have been detained following the abrogation of Article 370. Amid heavy lockdown with most of the local political leaders under detention, the Jammu and Kashmir state Election Commission on Sunday announced Block Development Council (BDC) elections to be held on October 24.

Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar said The elections will be held from 9 am to 1 pm on October 24, and votes will be counted from 3 pm. Elections will be held in 310 of 316 blocks in the state, a week before Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh are notified as Union Territories.

“Every District Development Board will have these elected BDC chairpersons as members, besides MLAs and MPs. At the district level, these Chairpersons have an important role in the development work of the district under the Panchayat Raj Act 1989 and rules of 1996,” said J-K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shailendra Kumar.

26,629 elected Panchs and Sarpanchs will elect 310 Block Development Chairpersons in the first phase. This will be followed by polls for 22 District Level Chairpersons for the District Development Boards. The results will be declared on the same day.

The recent announcement is seen as a move to create a new set of grass-root level leaders since most of the local leaders including former chief ministers have been detained following the abrogation of Article 370.

According to The Hindu, a Block-level Chairperson will have a Block Development Officer as secretary and the District Development Board Chairperson will work closely with the District Deputy Commissioner in implementing and allocating money for development work at the district and Block levels.

“Of 316 Block elections, two Blocks, one in Kulgam and one in Srinagar, have no elected panches or sarpanches. There are four blocks where no women panches and sarpanches are available for reserved seats. Thus, there shall be no elections there,” said Kumar.