NC sets up panel ahead of JMC polls

The National Conference on Sunday announced a 12-member committee to review the working of party units falling under Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) in view of the forthcoming Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The committee, which included former legislator Bimla Luthra and provincial president, Youth National Conference, Jammu, S Tejinder Singh, was constituted by National Conference provincial president, Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta, a party spokesperson said.

He said Jammu Province provincial secretary Pardeep Kumar Bali will act as the committee’s convener.

The district presidents of Jammu Urban, Jammu Rural-A and Jammu Rural-B and all the concerned block presidents and district presidents of all wings shall coordinate with the committee in the reviewing process which shall be completed within a month, the spokesman said.

Addressing the budget session of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly earlier on March 3, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the government is committed to strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRls) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) by ensuring timely elections at all levels.

Earlier on February 27, the Jammu and Kashmir local bodies dedicated backward classes commission established on June 11, 2023 for the purpose of conducting empirical studies on OBC representation submitted its final recommendations to the government, brightening the chances of holding local bodies polls.

Currently, the municipal bodies, panchayats and block development councils in Jammu and Kashmir are without elected representatives for a period of more than a year.

The term of municipalities ended in October-November 2023, while the panchayats and block development councils completed their five-year term on January 9, 2024.