Stories
BJP Vows Street Protests Against Omar Abdullah Over Delayed J&K Local Body Polls
- •BJP J&K President Sat Sharma accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of deliberately delaying Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections due to fear of defeat.
- •Sharma highlighted that Panchayats have been vacant for over 1.5 years and ULBs since November 2023, leaving over 30,000 Panch/Sarpanch and 1,000 municipal wards without elected representatives.
- •BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh directed the J&K unit to launch aggressive agitation, including massive dharnas and rallies, to force the government to announce poll schedules.
- •The BJP plans to expose the Omar Abdullah government's failures on various fronts, including unfulfilled promises regarding jobs, electricity, and regularization of daily wagers.
- •The absence of elected representatives has hampered grassroots development and direct public interface, with the BJP rejecting the government's argument of linking polls to statehood restoration.
Key Questions Answered
The BJP alleges that the Omar Abdullah-led government is deliberately avoiding Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections because it fears a humiliating defeat, knowing that voters are distressed and that the BJP would win a large majority of the seats if polls were held.
Following a review meeting held by BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh in Srinagar, the party leadership directed the J&K unit to launch an aggressive agitation, including massive dharnas, rallies, and demonstrations across all 20 districts to force the government to hold immediate elections.
Panchayats have been lying vacant for more than a year and a half following the expiration of their term in January 2024, while Urban Local Bodies have been without elected representatives since November 2023, leaving over 30,000 Panch and Sarpanch seats vacant.
