Anil Sharma, president of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), on Friday, said they would oppose the dissolution of panchayats as the move was unacceptable to them and urged the government to increase the term of panchayats by two years so that their elections are held along with District Development Councils (DDC) in January 2026.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu along with senior functionaries of AJKPC, Sharma said there are rumours doing the rounds that the government may dissolve the panchayats even before the due date which is unacceptable, and that they would oppose the move.
He said their fears that panchayats will be dissolved got strengthened due the revision of the voter list for panchayats.
“This is done two months before whenever panchayat elections are held,’’ he said.” This means that panchayats could be dissolved in the next two months.”
He said the term of the panchayats will end in December 2023 and they are demanding an extension for two years so that developmental works that have been undertaken by the panchayats are not disrupted.
Sharma said for 30 months, due to the abrogation of Article 370 and Covid pandemic, the panchayats couldn’t function and concentrate on developmental works. Hence, it is imperative that the term of existing panchayats is extended by at least two years.
He said after the implementation of 73rd amendment of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir, all three tiers of the panchayats should be co-terminus.
Sharma said as the term of the DDCs ends in 2025, it is not logical to end the term of the panchayats before that.
He demanded that elections for all the three tiers of the panchayats should be held simultaneously and all the Panchayati Raj Institution members were unanimous in this regard.
Sharma said the AJKPC will hold another meeting of its executive body and devise a strategy, including submitting memorandums to respective deputy commissioners at district level and divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu. He said they will also meet senior leaders of different political parties and Parliamentarians in New Delhi.
Sharma said the panchayats are carrying out the developmental works in their respective areas and their dissolution will disrupt such works.