Bite the ballot

As Srinagar and Jammu ready to vote in their municipal corporators this wintry February day, a sense of satisfaction is already palpable. In...

As Srinagar and Jammu ready to vote in their municipal corporators this wintry February day, a sense of satisfaction is already palpable. In Jammu and Kashmir8217;s first local body elections in 27 years, a new agenda has been asserted. On Saturday, the first phase of polling, voters defied boycott calls by separatists and militants, and turned up at polling booths in unprecedented numbers. Baramulla and Kupwara, for instance, registered turnouts in excess of 70 per cent. On first count, then, it is tempting to term this a vote against intimidation and alienation. Grasping this participatory mood, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has announced that panchayat elections will be held soon. This is prudent. A new compact with the elected class is visible, and it demands that larger sections of the population be brought within its fold.

The inclination to hail the turnout as a referendum on the electoral process itself is understandable. Yet, it is important to note the impatience that gives it ballast. Amidst the swirling debate on autonomy, the turnout is a demand for visible development. Therein lies the hope and the challenge. One, this successful texturing of democracy, this devolution, can help in ordering the people8217;s concerns in concrete demands. As voter after voter told this newspaper, this February vote is for the delivery of basic civic amenities. Therefore, two, it serves notice to the Jammu and Kashmir government and to successful candidates to expeditiously evolve a plan of action. This is why it is most unfortunate that some political leaders have chosen to question the fairness of the municipal elections without offering specific instances of malpractice. Matching popular demands with the allocated responsibility of a political institution marks the maturing of a democracy. Jammu and Kashmir8217;s voters are clearly doing so. Its politicians need to get into the act and balance this by eschewing irresponsible allegations.

The high turnout also underscores another challenge. These municipal elections come at a time when a variety of factors have secured a relative peace in the state. The outgoing army chief has noted that ceasefire on the Line of Control, sustained vigilance and border fencing have brought down levels of infiltration and incidents of violence. To secure meaningful participation in grassroots bodies, normalcy is key. It would also maximise popular engagement in the proposed renewal of the debate on Jammu and Kashmir8217;s autonomy.