Jammu, August 22: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday raised significant questions regarding the utility of holding elections if the elected representatives are not accorded respect and genuine authority by administrative officials. His remarks come amidst ongoing discussions and accusations of deliberate delays in the conduct of local body elections.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Choudhary, while addressing reporters, expressed concern that the current administrative structure, particularly under the Union Territory arrangement, might render elected representatives ineffective. He cited the absence of control over police and cadre services as an example, questioning the nature of governance when key administrative levers are not under local control.
The Deputy Chief Minister was responding to allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the National Conference (NC)-led government was intentionally postponing elections to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies. Choudhary asserted that the government was not opposed to holding elections but insisted on the creation of an administrative and political environment where elected officials could genuinely exercise their mandated powers.
He articulated that the NC government would be reluctant to conduct PRI elections if the outcomes were merely symbolic, with elected members subsequently being overlooked, disrespected, or ignored by bureaucratic officials. This, he argued, would defeat the fundamental purpose of democratic representation.
The Deputy Chief Minister further stated that the administration had previously indicated that preparations for local body elections were underway. These preparations included administrative formalities such as updating voter lists, establishing reservation policies, and completing delimitation exercises. However, the crux of his concern remained the operational capacity and respect afforded to those elected.
Choudhary posed a rhetorical question about the effectiveness of a sarpanch or a District Development Council (DDC) member if their directives are not heeded by the officers. He emphasized that the public desired meaningful and substantive elections, not merely ceremonial ones.
Earlier in the day, Choudhary had conducted a surprise inspection of a government hospital in the region, underscoring his engagement with public services and infrastructure.
The Chenab Times News Desk