Panchayat elections in the state are finally drawing to a close. On June 18, there will be the last phase of polls which given the trend so far is also expected to be participated by a large number of people. So far, the polling average has been around 80 pre cent which is first such record participation by the people in such an exercise in the state.  Before this around 60 per cent of people took part in the 2008 elections which incidentally followed the three month long unrest over Amarnath land row. Similarly, panchayat polls this year have followed a five month long turbulence over the killings of teenagers by the police and paramilitary forces. Though initially rejected by a section of separatists, some of them have come around to the reality of the elections in the state. That is, they are essentially tied to the governance of the state rather than to the status of the state as a historically contested place. People participated in large numbers and hundreds of village level leaders have been elected. What is more, some of them have even tasted power.  Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attached a sub-divisional magistrate in Kupwara for allegedly abusing a sarpanch who was demanding a transportation facility for his village. Besides, state Congress president Saif-u-Din Soz has already talked about the initial uneasiness in the relationship between a sarpanch and MLA. This is a recognition of sorts to the power that has begun to devolve to the grassroots. There have also been positive developments in the form of the election of a Kashmiri pandit woman in Tangmarg. Though there has been some violence too, the militant conglomerate UJC has put it down to the political rivalry rather than to an attempt by the militants to dissuade people from participating in the exercise. The explanation proffered is that the panchayat polls are for the fulfillment of civic needs of the people and that they have no bearing on the  larger issue of Kashmir. This approach seems to have settled the often complicated debate about the panchayat elections in the state and paved the way towards grassroots governance. What now remains to be seen is whether panchayats would truly help bring power to the people or like the larger democratic reality of the state are overtaken by the troubled politics over the state. Much will also depend on how government will devolve powers and functions to the panchayats. A committee of high-ranking officers headed by the Chief Secretary is working out transfer of functions, funds and functions to panchayats. While the CM's action against an SDM for taking on a sarpanch has  heralded  the arrival of a new grassroots power structure, the government will need to delineate a more meaningful role for panchayats to enable them to actually deliver. This will require government to act in right earnest. As SDM episode would have us believe, the panchayat raj is going to lead to a lot of democratic conflict. Newly elected sarpanch and soon to be elected, the block level representatives will have to jostle for the political space and administrative role with the local bureaucracy and also the politicians. But it would depend on extent of powers government is willing to delegate to the panchayats that will determine the effectiveness of these grassroots institutions. Now encouraged by the success of panchayat polls which are expected to usher in the grassroots democracy in the state and empower the people to take charge of their basic development needs, state government is looking forward to hold block-level polls. The government will constitute 142 block development councils and 22 district planning and development boards.  Much rides on how these institutions deliver. More so, in a state which has so far only received a raw deal from the successive democratic governments.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST