Jammu, March 29, 2026 : The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced that preparations are underway to conduct Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections at the earliest, following the expiry of terms of all local bodies in the Union Territory.
Minister in charge of elections Javed Ahmad Dar informed the Legislative Assembly that the State Election Commission is actively making arrangements for the smooth conduct of polls.
All Local Bodies Currently Without Elected Representatives
- Municipal bodies’ tenure ended in Oct–Nov 2023
- Panchayats & Block Development Councils ended on Jan 9, 2024
- District Development Councils completed tenure on Feb 24, 2026
This has left all grassroots governance institutions without elected representatives, increasing the urgency for fresh elections.
Delay Factors Identified
The government cited key reasons for the delay:
- Ongoing delimitation of wards
- Reservation process for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
- Administrative and procedural requirements
The report of the Backward Classes Commission is currently under review, and further steps will be taken once it is approved.
Progress On Delimitation & Preparations
- Delimitation initiated for 77 ULBs; completed in 72, ongoing in 5
- Boundaries frozen till completion of Census process (effective July 1, 2025)
- Electoral rolls revised with January 1, 2025 as qualifying date
- Panchayat electoral roll updates underway
Election Infrastructure Ready
Significant logistical preparations have already been completed:
- MoU signed with Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission for 7,000 multi-post EVMs
- Around 30,000 ballot boxes supplied across districts
- Procurement of election materials in advanced stages
Next Steps
Reservation and rotation of wards will be undertaken by the State Election Commission after approval of the OBC Commission report. The government reiterated that elections will be held promptly once all statutory requirements are fulfilled.
The move is expected to restore grassroots democracy and strengthen local governance across Jammu and Kashmir after a prolonged gap.
