Srinagar, July 16, 2025: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is set to initiate discussions on holding the long-pending Urban Local Body (ULB) and Panchayat elections after the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra on August 9, 2025, according to senior officials. The move aims to restore grassroots democracy in the Union Territory, where the terms of ULBs and Panchayats expired in November 2023 and January 2024, respectively.
The J&K State Election Commission has begun preparatory work, including revising electoral rolls and finalizing the delimitation of Panchayat Halqas (revenue villages). The elections, delayed due to the inclusion of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations post the abrogation of Article 370, are expected to be highly competitive, with political parties unofficially backing candidates despite the non-party nature of these polls. A senior official, speaking anonymously, stated, “We are committed to conducting these elections at the earliest to strengthen democratic processes at the grassroots level.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, and the J&K Municipal Corporation (Elections) Rules, 2003, mandate consultations with the Election Authority and preparation of electoral rolls before polls can be announced. The government is prioritizing these elections to address delays in developmental projects linked to the cessation of Panchayat funds (₹25 lakh per Panchayat) since January 2024. Security arrangements are also a key focus, with forces deployed for the Amarnath Yatra to remain in J&K to ensure safe conduct of the polls, given the high costs of redeployment.
The elections, likely to be held by December 2025 or March 2026 post-delimitation, will cover 4,292 Panchayats (2,182 in Kashmir, 2,110 in Jammu) and 79 ULBs, including the Jammu Municipal Corporation and Srinagar Municipal Corporation. The polls are seen as a critical step toward restoring statehood and empowering local governance, following the successful Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024. However, concerns linger over the vacant State Election Commissioner post, with the All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) urging swift appointments to avoid further delays.
The National Conference and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), dominant after the 2024 elections, are expected to influence candidate selections, while regional parties like the PDP and Congress prepare for a competitive electoral landscape. The elections aim to reinvigorate local governance and address public grievances over stalled development initiatives.
