Preparations are underway to conduct long-pending Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly on February 9, 2026. The announcement has raised expectations of the early restoration of elected grassroots institutions across the Union Territory.
The Chief Minister said the government is committed to holding the elections at the earliest, noting that several administrative and legal processes are already in progress. The update comes after the expiry of terms of various local bodies, which has left administrators in charge for more than a year in many areas.
State Election Commission Handling Poll Preparations
Responding to a question by Congress MLA Tariq Hameed Karra, Omar Abdullah clarified that the responsibility for conducting Panchayat and ULB elections lies with the State Election Commission (SEC). The SEC oversees the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of elections under the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, the J&K Municipal Act, and the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
However, the Chief Minister pointed out a key hurdle: the post of State Election Commissioner is currently vacant. He acknowledged that this could delay the process until an appointment is made.
Delimitation Work Nearing Completion
Delimitation of constituencies, a crucial step to ensure fair representation based on population changes, is also progressing. Jammu and Kashmir has 77 Urban Local Bodies in total. Delimitation has been completed for 72 ULBs, while work is ongoing for the remaining five, in line with directives from the Housing and Urban Development Department.
For Panchayats, delimitation was last carried out in 2018 ahead of the previous elections and remains unchanged for now.
Election Materials and Voter Lists Updated
The procurement of election materials is also moving forward. The tendering process for Panchayat election supplies has been completed, while the process is still underway for District Development Council (DDC) elections. DDCs function as higher-tier rural institutions coordinating with Panchayats.
Voter list preparation has seen significant progress. Electoral rolls for Panchayat elections have already been finalized using January 1, 2025, as the qualifying date. For ULBs, voter list updates will begin once the delimitation exercise concludes and formal approval is granted.
Reservation Report Under Review
Another important step involves reservations for backward classes and other categories. The report submitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission is currently under examination. Further action will be taken after the review to ensure fair and inclusive representation in local bodies.
Background and Reasons for Delay
The delay in holding elections follows the completion of earlier tenures. Panchayat and Block Development Council (BDC) terms ended on January 9, 2024. DDC terms are set to expire on February 24, 2026. In urban areas, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s term ended on November 5, 2023, while the Jammu Municipal Corporation completed its term on November 14, 2023.
Since then, administrators have been managing local governance, a situation many stakeholders believe undermines democratic participation at the grassroots level.
Political and Public Expectations Rise
Local body elections hold significant importance in Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic process. Panchayat and ULB polls in 2018 marked a major return of grassroots democracy after years, while DDC elections in 2020 followed the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
With a new National Conference-led government under Omar Abdullah taking office after the 2024 Assembly elections, expectations have risen for swift action on local polls. Civil society groups, including the Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference, have urged the government to announce a clear election timeline, citing developmental setbacks in rural and border regions.
Political leaders across parties are also gearing up, emphasizing the need to strengthen grassroots governance.
Government Reiterates Commitment
Although no specific election dates were announced, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reiterated the government’s commitment to conducting Panchayat and ULB elections at the earliest possible time. He emphasized that restoring elected local bodies is essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring responsive governance in villages and towns across Jammu and Kashmir.
With most preparatory steps progressing and only a few administrative hurdles remaining, residents are hopeful that they will soon be able to elect representatives who can directly address their local needs.
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