Srinagar | After the boycott of the local body elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir by two major political parties, the elections are likely to get postponed, as per sources.
The Panchayat and Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir were boycotted by the Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on the issue of Article 35-A. Both the parties wanted the Central government to clarify their stand on the issue of Article 35-A which grants ‘Specials rights and privileges to the permanent citizens of Jammu and Kashmir’. According to Sources, the elections will be shifted till January next year, however, the final decision will be taken by the State Advisory Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik.
The Congress party also asked the central government to clarify its stand on the local body election. Addressing a press conference Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief GA Mir said, “Polls were declared without taking a stock of the situation on the ground. The Central govt & administration should clear their stand in front of the people of J&K that whether they want to conduct elections or is it just a gimmick.”
Criticising the opposition parties for the decision of boycotting the election BJP said that the party will be contesting the election. BJP also termed the National Conference and the PDP as opportunistic parties for boycotting polls. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also deferred the hearing of Article 35-A till January next year after the Centre sought for security arrangement while holding of panchayat and civic elections in the state.
The Panchayat election is looked as a crucial event in Jammu and Kashmir after the implementation of the President’s rule in the state. President’s rule was implemented in the state after the BJP withdrew its support from the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government
Article 35-A incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, disallows people from residing in Jammu and Kashmir, buying or owning immovable property in the state, settle permanently, or get state government jobs.
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