The upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections being held in winters (the first of the eight phases was on Saturday, November 28, 2020) has already started heating-up Kashmir. What is interesting and very obvious is that neither the traditional politics is being decimated nor dynasty politics is emerging weaker. The people who are contesting the top-tier of the Panchayat Raj indicate details about the ground situation of Jammu and Kashmir semi-frozen politics.
The traditional political class has not only come to the battleground to defend small pockets of their influence but has also created enough of space for their extended families by putting up their kith and kin as candidates. A DDC constituency is a small constituency that comprises a dozen-odd Panchayats. The administration has divided a district into 14 such constituencies. In an assembly that had 87 berths, now the DDC set-up will cumulatively have 280 elected members. That means an assembly constituency will now have more than three representatives.
The smaller constituency has not impacted various lawmakers of the earlier assemblies to jump into the fray. It is across the political parties. Some have taken personal ambitions too seriously as others hold their party leaders responsible for pushing them getting into a “small job”.
LAWMAKERS INTO DDC
Two-time BJP legislator from Suchetgarh and former cabinet minister Sham Lal Choudhary has thrown his hat in the ring for DDC elections citing the “demand from the people” of his constitunecy as the reason behind his decision.
This story is from the December 05, 2020 edition of Kashmir Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 05, 2020 edition of Kashmir Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Before The Kabul Retreat
Described as the ‘Graveyard of Empires’, Afghanistan was always termed to be at peace when it was at war. But the land-locked desert country that was always in turmoil and one of the worst targets of the Great Game suffered immensely throughout, especially in the last 40 years, Masood Hussain writes
FINGERS CROSSED
Almost everybody in academia and politics that Khalid Bashir Gura spoke to, the response over Kabul happens was simple – wait and watch
Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar
The visiting 28-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have had detailed interactions with top civil administration and discussed developmental scenario and people’s welfare measures in Jammu and Kashmir. It is on a 4-day visit. Congress leader and MP Anand Sharma is heading the committee.
MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE
Deep into north Kashmir, Faheem Mir meet a small community that sings and lives on folk music but is facing a tense situation in the last few years
THE KABUL SPILLOVER?
Security experts are divided over the possible impact of the Kabul situation on Kashmir. But the dramatic Taliban triumph has altered the region’s geopolitics, for the time being, writes Riyaz Wani
Durga Bhawan At Katra
To enhancing facilities for the convenience of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs 24.4 crore. The facility will accommodate 4000 pilgrims.
Women Empowerment
In the first, 480 talented girls from Jammu and Kashmir were included in the degree and diploma courses of the Pragati Scholarship. Jammu and Kashmir has also got nine scholarships under the Saksham Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'
Foreign policy expert and editor of HardNews magazine, Sanjay Kapoor believes that Taliban 2.0 has more legitimacy unlike in the past as it had signed a deal with the US and negotiated with other countries of the region, but the final verdict can be passed only after it manages ticklish issues involving half of its population, the women
Boredom Is Creative?
Getting bored is not as boring as it gets, writes Azra Hussain
LG In Bangus
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela amidst grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence.
