Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 16: Terming it an exercise in futility and accusing the ruling National Conference of its failure to empower the Panchayat Raj Institution in the State, Samajwadi Party (SP) today announced boycott of the polls for Legislative Council seats under the Panchayat quota.
“We have decided to boycott the polls for Legislative Council seats under Panchayat quota in Jammu and Kashmir as there is total failure on the part of the Government to empower Panchayat Raj institution the state,” SP state unit president Sheikh Abdul Rehman told reporters here today.
Rehman also appealed the Panchayat members, including panchs and sarpanchs to boycott from the polls as they have only been considered by the Government as “voters” and deliberately denied powers.
He said these elections will serve no purpose till 73rd Amendment of Indian Constitution is implemented in letter and spirit in the State.
Rehman alleged that two years after holding the Panchayat polls, no Block Development Council (BDC) and District development Board (DDB) polls were held in order to deny the rights to Panchayat members.
He said while the entire country has elected District Board chairmen under the Panchayat Raj Institution, but in the State there is a nominated chairman in the form of the Cabinet Minister as a result of which the Centre has denied funds to the state.
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