Srinagar, Jan 15: The State Election Department has finalized the electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir for the Panchayat elections which have got delayed due to cropping up of differences between coalition partners- National Conference and Congress- over inclusion of certain amendments in the State Panchayat Raj Act.
Sources told Greater Kashmir that apart from the electoral rolls the department has prepared fresh data about the number of Panchayats and Panch Constituencies in JK.
“The state has now total 52 lakh voters eligible for voting during Panchayat polls. Around two lakh of these voters will be exercising their right for the first time,” sources said.
State Chief Electoral Officer, BR Sharma told Greater Kashmir that the electoral rolls were finalized during first week of this month.
Following the updation of the electoral rolls, sources said the number of Panchayats and Panch constituencies have gone up to 4131 and 29710 respectively across Jammu and Kashmir.
“The whole exercise of compilation of the electoral rolls was finalized today,” sources said. The department had last year invited objections for any addition or deletion of voter’s name in the electoral rolls for Panchayat polls, which are likely to be conducted on non-party basis, for which government has already decided on 33 per cent reservation for women.
An official asserted that the department has already dispatched the required poll material to all the 22 districts except for few items including ballot boxes.
Once government decides on dates for holding the elections the left out exercise would be completed, officials said.
The holding of Panchayat election had run into rough weather last December after serious differences cropped up between the coalition partners over inclusion of 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution of India in the J&K Panchayat Raj Act, 1989, part of which has been approved by the state cabinet last week, to empower the Panchayats.
If incorporated in the Act the amendments would ensure “complete decentralization” of governance through Panchayati Raj institutions in rural areas.
Following differences the National Conference-Congress Coordination Committee on December 16 decided to set up a 4-member panel to see how best the Act could be amended that upholds the spirit of the 73rd amendment of the constitution.
However the committee is yet to take a shape.
“The incorporation of the amendments is a must to strengthen the system of governance,” State Congress president Prof Saif-ud-din Soz told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST