DDC polls signify democracy's return to J&K : Expert

As counting of votes for the 280 District Development Council constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir is nearing to an end, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has taken the lead against its arch-rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The elections assume significance as it is the first major electoral exercise since the Centre abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution on August 5, 2019. Meanwhile, speaking to ETV Bharat, Political Analyst Desh Ratan Nigam said, "the DDC elections were the first democratic exercise held in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir's political parties contested the Lok Sabha elections but boycotted the local elections, signifying that democracy is slowly coming back in Jammu and Kashmir."