Srinagar, Dec 16 – Three District Development Council (DDC) seats in Jammu and Kashmir remain vacant following the election of their members to the Legislative Assembly. Despite the passage of nearly two months since the assembly election results, by-polls for these seats have yet to be announced by the government.
The seats in question include Pulwama-I, Sangrama, and Kahara, where elected DDC members Waheed Ur Rehman Para, Irfan Hafiz Lone, and Mehraj Malik, respectively, were later elected as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
Waheed Ur Rehman Para, who won from Pulwama-I, had not taken the oath as a DDC member before his MLA victory. Lone secured his assembly seat from the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency, while Malik was elected from the Doda segment.
The delay in announcing by-polls has raised questions about administrative planning and governance. The absence of representatives in these constituencies may hinder developmental projects under the DDC framework, introduced as part of the amended Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.
DDC Elections: A Historical Context
The DDC elections, held for the first time in November-December 2020, were seen as a milestone in grassroots governance in Jammu and Kashmir after the region’s reorganization in 2019. The elections marked a transition to a three-tier system, replacing District Development Boards and empowering elected members to formulate and implement district-level development plans.
Each DDC comprises 14 directly elected members who oversee developmental activities, ensuring public participation in governance.
Precedent of By-Elections
By-polls have been held previously under unusual circumstances. In 2023, elections for the Drugmulla and Hajin (A) constituencies were declared void after two candidates, later identified as non-citizens, were disqualified. The candidates, hailing from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, had contested the elections despite their ineligibility under Indian law.
The delay in scheduling the by-polls for the vacant DDC seats of Pulwama-I, Sangrama, and Kahara has left key constituencies without representation, with no official statement from the State Election Commission on the timeline for new elections.
Local residents and political observers are urging the authorities to expedite the process to ensure the continuity of grassroots development initiatives in the region.
(Inputs from news agency KNO)
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