Srinagar, Oct 02 (KNO): With Block Development Council (BDC) elections on cards,Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) seems to be in a win-win situation as the party enjoys the edge as leaders of all the major parties like National Conference, PDP, Congress and others are in continuous detention since August 5.
According to a wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the recent announcement of BDC election dates have created an open entry for the cadres of BJP at the time when the local mainstream parties are under preventive custody.
The move which has been welcomed by the BJP party workers at Srinagar and at the same time some of the mainstream parties called the announcement a sheer conspiracy to win the elections by the ongoing detention of the representatives of other parties.
Official figures revealed that out of total 18, 089 Panchayat members, in less than a year since the first tier of the polls were held, 20 Panchayat members have died, while as 43 members have resigned in Jammu division.
Election was not conducted for 103 Panchayat members, thus, making the total of 166 vacancies in Jammu division.
Similarly, In Kashmir division elections could not be held for 12,054 Panchayat members and 500 Panchayat members resigned, 11 died, thus, making the total vacancy of 12, 565 members.
In Ladakh, in 31 blocks, a total number of 1414 Panchs and 192 Sarpanchs were elected, while the polls couldn’t be held for 24 Panchayat members. 19 members resigned, two died- making the total vacancy of 45 members.
Irfan Ahmad, a BJP party worker told KNO, “I am very happy with the announcement of BDC elections in the valley which will surely unfurl the prosperity in the Kashmir region and will surely uplift the weaker sections of our society.”
He said that the move will bring a new sunrise in valley as the BJP party cadres will work on-grounds to eliminate corruption and favoritism in the region. He further added that, “The BJP will work on all round development in Kashmir and will play an important role in eliminating the poverty in the state.”
Umer Nazir, a congress worker told wire service—KNO, “The present situation is absolutely not conductive in order to conduct BDC elections in Kashmir as most of the mainstream party leaders are under preventive custody amid the ongoing uncertainty which has hampered all the major developments in the region.”
He said that there is only one party which can take an advantage of the present situation when most of the leadership is under detention. He further added that, “The conduction of election in the present circumstances is completely unfair and undemocratic as the region is on standstill in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state I two Union territories and announcement of BDC election dates is not less than rubbing the salt on the wounds of Kashmiris.” (KNO)