Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 23: Government today failed to specify any timeframe for holding of Urban Local Bodies elections despite the fact that the same forms part of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the PDP-BJP Coalition Government and found mention in the Governor’s Address.
The issue of holding elections to Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees was raised by BJP MLA from Jammu West Assembly constituency, Sat Paul Sharma during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly.
“The State has lost hundreds of crores of rupees Central assistance for not conducting the Local Bodies election during the past four years and I want to know the measures taken to ensure immediate elections to these basic civic bodies in accordance with the 74th Amendment of the Indian Constitution”, Mr Sharma said.
While replying, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh, who is also holding the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development Department, said, “the Government is contemplating to conduct the Municipal elections and the issue is under submission with the General Administration Department”.
He, however, failed to specify the time-frame for holding of polls despite the fact that the same forms part of CMP of Coalition partners and found mention in the Governor’s Address.
Deputy Chief Minister also failed to give clear reply vis-à-vis whether Government would conduct delimitation of wards of Municipal bodies before holding elections and simply said: “We shall see to it”.
He also evaded direct reply to the query of party MLA Sat Paul Sharma as to whether financial assistance to the Municipal Corporations and Committees would be given as per the area they are feeding.
Dr Singh informed the House that J&K has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 169 crore on account of withholding of the central assistance to the State for not conducting the Local Bodies elections. The last elections for these bodies were held in the year 2005.
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