In any vibrant democracy, elections are not merely procedural events—they are the heartbeat of governance and representation. The recent statements by Tanvir Sadiq, the sitting MLA from Zadibal and Chief Spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), have reignited a pressing debate over the delay in holding by-elections and the long-pending Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr. Sadiq has openly questioned the Election Commission of India’s prolonged silence and delay in conducting by-elections. His concerns resonate with a significant section of the public, which sees in these delays a growing democratic vacuum. The absence of elected representatives at various levels is gradually eroding people’s faith in participatory governance.
The common citizens too are raising their voices, seeking immediate conduct of Panchayat and ULB polls. Their demand is not rooted in politics, but in the need for accountable, grassroots-level administration. Without elected Panchayat members, several critical schemes under the Rural Development sector—such as MGNREGA and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan—are reported to be mismanaged or out of the common man’s reach.
There is a growing perception that in the absence of local governance, certain rural development block offices are operating under the influence of particular political parties, undermining neutrality. Whether or not this perception holds universally true, it certainly signals an urgent need to restore democratic processes at the grassroots.
