Local body polls
It is a virtual show down between the State Administration and all the important political parties in J&K State. While the State Administration is adamant to hold Panchayat and Local Body elections in the coming months of October to December, most of the political parties including National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decided not to participate in these polls.
State Administration has already instructed J&K Police to prepare itself for the security and for holding of these elections in entire J&K State. The removal of State Police Chief and Intelligence Chief has shown that State Chief Secretary has decided to show that he is the man who is in-charge of J&K State. As he was having a brief strained relationship with former Governor N.N. Vohra it is to be seen how Satya Pal Malik takes his decisions. Reports have already said that Satya Pal Malik is likely to consult all the political parties in J&K State for holding of these elections before going ahead with administrative decision of State Chief Secretary.
After National Conference and PDP decided to pull out from the Panchayat and Local Body polls to be held in J&K State, it is becoming a difficult situation for the State Administration to still hold the polls as they cannot be credible in absence of two main political parties of J&K, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Chief Secretary has already given instructions for the issuances of a notification for the Urban Local Bodies elections in the State. Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) of the State Shaleen Kabra said that notification would be issued for holding the Municipal polls shortly on the instructions of the government. Chief Secretary recently told media that the government will hold the polls on scheduled dates as some media houses from New Delhi had reported that the government will postpone the polls because of boycott by NC and PDP.
