Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Apr 6: In a major political development, Congress – National Conference (NC) Coordination Committee today vowed to gear up the administrative machinery for early holding of Block Development Council (BDC) and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections.
The decision was taken here today in the meeting of the Coordination Committee (CC), which was held under the chairmanship of Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, who had recently been re-appointed as Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief. The meeting was attended by all other members of the Committee including Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and Minister for CA&PD and Transport Choudhary Ramzan from National Conference and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and former Deputy CM Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma from Congress.
Over the issue of introducing 73rd amendment in the State Panchayati Raj Act, sources said, “it has been mutually decided that the Report of the High Level Committee formulated by the State Government to suggest suitable amendment would further be discussed between two senior members of both political parties so as to arrive at a consensus at the earliest possible”.
“Within a week’s time JKPCC (I) chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz and Rural Development Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar will hold meeting over the subject and finalise the much-awaited amendments, which need to be incorporated into the State Act for further empowerment of the Panchayats across the State”, source said.
“After the coalition partners arrive at consensus on the issue, the State Government will have to come up with an ordinance for incorporating the necessary amendments as Legislature was not in session”, sources asserted.
Besides, CC also discussed the issue for early holding of elections to Corporations, Municipal Committee and Councils across the State. “Since, the State Electoral Department had already made preparations for holding of the Urban Local Body polls, it had been mutually agreed to conduct them before June end”.
EXCELSIOR had exclusively reported on April 3 that the Urban Development and Local Bodies Department had formally also conveyed to the Government its preparedness to hold elections to Municipalities on or any time after May 15.
The Election Department would be publishing final electoral rolls after the revision of both Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporation and all other ULBs by this month end.
Sources said that the CC also discussed the issue of delay in filling up of PSC vacancies. There are four vacancies in the PSC against the total strength of eight members, besides a chairman.
Out of four members, two will be nominated by the NC and two by Congress. “The Congress party had almost finalized the name of former Director Account General, Accounts & Treasuries hailing from Bhaderwah and Gurudev Raj Bhagat, who had retired as Secretary from the Planning Department”, source said, adding, that “the National Conference had stated that they shall be submitting the panel when the situation arises”.
Talking to media persons after the conclusion of CC meeting at 6.15 pm, Chairman of the Committee, Saif-ud-Din Soz said, “twin member Committee comprising senior members of National Conference and Congress would hold meeting within a week and arrive at a consensus over the amendments, which need to be incorporated in the State Panchayati Raj Act”.
“The introduction of 73rd amendments into the State Act would help us further in empowerment of Panchayats and these changes shall also pave way for early holding of chairman of Block Development Council (BDC), which had been put on hold in October last year”, he said.
“The State Government has also been told to gear up for early holding of Urban Local Bodies polls as most of the spadework had been done in this context”, he added.
Reacting to reports of challenge to Congress party from Gujarat Chief Minister, Narender Modi, the Congress State chief said, “in a secular country like India, fundamentalist elements like Modi are not acceptable to the masses and this realization shall come to the BJP leader sooner or later”.
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