Much-awaited Urban Local Bodies polls in J&K unlikely in 2026

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, Jul 06:  The much-awaited Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polls in Jammu & Kashmir are unlikely to be held in 2026 due to the absence of an updated electoral roll, which will only be available after Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is undertaken in the Union Territory.

Officials disclosed to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the chances of holding the electoral exercise in the UT this year are almost nil, as the updated electoral roll required for these polls will only be prepared after the SIR exercise is completed.

“Unlike Panchayat polls, the electoral roll for Urban Local Bodies is prepared on the basis of the electoral rolls of the Election Commission of India. No revision of electoral rolls has been undertaken in Jammu & Kashmir by the ECI since the 2024 Assembly polls,” they said, adding that this has made the conduct of ULB elections in 2026 highly unlikely.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had said earlier this year that the SIR exercise in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh will be announced later, after considering the completion of Phase-II of the Census and weather conditions in snow-bound areas.

“After considering the completion of Phase-II of the Census in these three State/UTs and due consideration of the weather in the upper reaches/snow-bound areas, the SIR schedule for these three State/UTs will be announced later,” the EC had said in a press note.

The five-year terms of elected Urban Local Bodies in Jammu & Kashmir ended between October and December 2023. The UT has 78 Urban Local Bodies, including two Municipal Corporations—(KNO)