The ULB polls in JK were last held in January 2005 after a gap of 23 years. As same were ought to be held in the year 2010 again , the then Omar Abdullah led coalition failed to conduct the elections on time, resulting in the lapse of funds granted by Government of India for the process.
The chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is sure of the triumph in ULB polls, therefore ignoring all the warning of delaying the already belated polls in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeedin the past month by visiting Srinagar sent a clear signal to the party cadres in Srinagar to remain on tenterhooks for the forth- coming ULB polls and gain much foothold for the task. Sources within the party said that the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has made it clear before his party that they must not leave a single stone unturned while striving to sweep the ULB polls- likely to be held in April next year.
Sources said that several party leaders were of the opinion that the disgruntlement of Tariq Karra could prove as a spoilsport in the process and that he would probably get indulged into the negative campaigning. “We have seen that during that rally of the prime ministerNarendraModi in Srinagar on November 7, Tariq Karra asked his people to stay away. It is likely that he will follow the same style during the ULB polls,” sources said.
Several party leaders have asked the chief minister and the party chief Mehbooba Mufti to delay the conduction of the ULB polls, saying there has to be much work needed to strengthen the party base in Srinagar. “But it was the decision of the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to go ahead. Already, there has been much delay done by the previous regime. All the chief minister wants is to ensure facilities for the people through these polls,” a party leader said, adding that the chief minister has been much categori- cal in telling the party cadres not to come up with the excuses. Sources said that several party leaders were of the opinion that the disgruntlement of Tariq Karra could prove as a spoilsport in the process and that he would probably get indulged into the negative campaign ing.
“We have seen that during that rally of the prime ministerNaren- draModi in Srinagar on November 7, Tariq Karra asked his people to stay away. It is likely that he will follow the same style during the ULB polls,” sources said. Meanwhile, it was informed further that the district president Srinagar of the PDP Mohammad KhurshidAlam had assured the chief minister of a strong base in Srinagar and had expressed optimism in defeating the rivals with utmost efforts. Alam, as per sources, had informed the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed about party’s present status and how it is gaining its ground in state’s summer capital.
“It was after the assurance of Alam that Mufti asked the cadres to gear up for the challenge and not to come up with the expectations of delaying the ULB polls,” sources said. Furthermore, the visit of the chief minister to various areas of Srinagar again sent signals to the party about his active involvement in the process and how seriously he wants PDP to register the remarkable triumph. The ULB polls in JK were last held in January 2005 after a gap of 23 years.
As same were ought to be held in the year 2010 again , the then Omar Abdullah led coalition failed to conduct the elections on time, resulting in the lapse of funds granted by Government of India for the process. In Jammu and Kashmir, there are 82 urban local bodies, 74 Municipal Committees and six Municipal Councils.
