New Kashmir in Motion: First Panchayat Polls in March 2025 Post Fresh Delimitation Set to Redefine Valley Politics

Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up for Panchayat elections in March 2025, following the completion of delimitation, similar to the process that took place before the assembly polls this year, News18 has learnt. With the term of the previous panchayats ending in 2023, almost over a year ago, the upcoming elections are expected to reshape the grassroots governance and politics in the region, marking a significant step in J&K’s evolving political landscape after the abrogation of Article 370.

Sources in the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said that the delimitation process would be initiated in the region soon and the elections for the rural bodies are likely to take place in the six months.

The state has a total of 4,292 panchayats which include 2,182 in Kashmir and 2,110 in Jammu valley. According to the senior officers serving in the state, the decision to retain the security forces in the region has been taken keeping in view the high cost associated with to and fro movement and for the redeployment of such forces for the local body elections. Security forces were first deployed for the Amarnath Yatra and later for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly polls.

The terms of office of the municipal corporations in both Jammu and Srinagar expired last November. As per legal and administrative requirements, elections must be held either before or shortly after the end of the corporation’s term. As per the official website of the state, a total of 24,391 Panchs or members were elected in the 2018 elections.

The delay in conducting local body polls has made these development processes and the schemes long overdue prompting the government to prioritise their completion, said a senior IAS officer. After the conduct of Panchayat and urban body polls, all democratic processes, including those at the grassroots level, will be completed in J&K post abrogation of Article 370, he added.

Almost 25,000 panches and sarpanches completed five-year terms last year. The 2024 Panchayat poll will be held after fresh delimitation of ‘Halqas’ (Revenue Villages, added the senior officer.