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| NC shying away from conducting elections...? | | Local Bodies polls: all pretexts for deferment over..... | | ET Report
Jammu, Aug 4: Notwithstanding the assertion of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself a couple of times early this year on Government's intent to conduct elections to urban local bodies in the State, the ruling party is shying away from holding the polls and strategically delaying this exercise, much against the wishes of its alliance partner Congress.
According to sources the National Conference is neither willing nor prepared to face the electorate in either of the two regions as it fears debacle both at the hands of its rival parties as also in some pockets by its own ally Congress in the Local Bodies polls. The Congress on the other hand has been explicitly expressing keenness in holding the much delayed polls as it is only affecting its political prospects, at least in Jammu where other parties have started filling in the gaps in certain wards, no matter in a slow and steady manner.
Sources said it is in the backdrop of this basic dilemma of ruling National Conference that Chief Minister was forced to announce that Government intends to hold the elections which are over due for over two years, a delay which is not only impacting negatively on the development scenario of the urban areas but also resulting in lapse of funds to the tune of crores of rupees. Even though the Chief Minister made announcement to this effect at least twice, first sometime in January this year, that long pending Municipal polls will be conducted in March-April this year, these were 'strategically' deferred, on one or the other pre-text, the cause of which is purely lack of NC's interest in the exercise. Sources said party is afraid of the outcome as the leadership feels it will test the political waters at ground level, which at present are not in favour of the party.
Interestingly, the Chief Minister also announced during the Budget session of Assembly that elections for Block Development Councils will be held by end of March, an exercise which is also pending. However, the reasons attributed later in May for deferment of the polls was the commencement of tourist season at that time which Government observed would hamper the smooth conduct of the elections .
Sources, however, confirmed that this deferment was made following some sharp differences that erupted between the coalition partners in the Coordination Committee meeting over the deadline for holding the elections to Urban Local bodies. While Congress had expressed its desire to have the polls conducted as early as possible, NC showed no urgency in the matter, sources said. NC's fears have also been compounded due to the ample indications from the Congress that it was not interested in fighting the elections jointly , sources added. Moreover, sources said Congress has begun to pester NC again on this front on the contention that all the reasons it was attributing in postponement of the polls, be that tourist season, Amarnath Yatra or pre occupation with other fronts like Presidential polls etc are now over and therefore no justification for further delay in the polls. |
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