Following the successful completion of both parliamentary and assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir is poised to conduct its panchayat and municipal elections, contingent upon the government's decision regarding the percentage of seats to be reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Currently, there are no established rules for OBC reservations in panchayats, municipalities, block development councils, and district development councils.
With the abrogation of Article 370, the Centre has recently opted to implement comprehensive measures for the upliftment of underprivileged segments of society.
According to official reports, the authorities responsible for conducting the elections have stated that they are prepared to hold the polls at any time.
However, they have emphasised that this can only proceed once a decision on reservations is made by the government.
In June, the government established a Dedicated Backward Classes Commission to facilitate reservations for OBCs in local bodies. Subsequently, its chairman and members were appointed, and the commission will present its recommendations to the government, upon which a decision will be made.
Earlier this year, in February, Parliament passed a bill providing for reservations for OBCs in panchayats, municipalities, block development councils, and district development councils to ensure their rights to representation are safeguarded.
The recent assembly elections have been a positive indication for the government, with an overall turnout of approximately 63 per cent recorded across all three phases.
Although panchayat and municipal elections were originally scheduled for last year, the decision to implement reservations for underprivileged classes delayed the process.
During the last panchayat and municipal elections in 2018, the government asserted that democracy had been genuinely brought to the grassroots level, as public participation was substantial.
The panchayat elections were conducted on a non-party basis and were viewed as a significant advancement for democracy.
While two major political parties, the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), initially boycotted the elections, they later expressed regret for not participating, allowing other parties to seize the opportunity.
The central government, along with regional parties, remains optimistic about the smooth conduct of the upcoming polls, similar to the assembly elections that concluded on October 1, with results currently awaited.
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