Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced on Tuesday that elections for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the Union Territory would be held after the completion of the delimitation exercise. The LG’s statement comes days after reports that there would be a delay in conducting ULB polls.
Speaking after felicitating councilors of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, whose tenure ended on Tuesday, the LG said local body elections would be held after the completion of the delimitation exercise and reservation of wards for Other Backward Classes.
The LG also commended the councilors for serving people, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensuring municipal services in their respective areas. He said that the common public and elected representatives must work in synergy and focus on resource generation.
Praising the Centre, the LG said that despite the delayed implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments in Jammu and Kashmir, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UT administration has ensured the basic principles of decentralization of decision-making and development by transferring more departments and works to elected representatives after August 2019.
He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, ULBs of Jammu and Kashmir are provided with greater financial resources for strong and accountable self-government and to ensure a holistic ecosystem for last-mile access to services.
The LG said that Municipal Corporations are a symbol of the aspirations of the citizens in the 21st century.
“Urban governance inculcates the spirit of cooperation among the citizens with the aim of bringing transformation in the urban development paradigm to fulfill people’s aspirations,” he said.
