Members of the newly constituted district development councils (DDCs) including their elected Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons are concerned about self representation as they were recently in news for threatening resignations over their demands for hike in their own salaries . Had they threatened resignations over their non involvement in the major policy decisions like imposition of property tax and new liquor license policy till the conduct of new assembly elections and formation of a new popular government in Jammu & Kashmir, people won’t become their critics overnight? The leaderships of the political parties exercising political control over district development councils (DDCs) too have failed to guide DDC members of their parties rightly on their conduct and behaviour . In fact the leaderships of the political parties exercising political control over DDC members in one or the other district have themselves failed to deliver as public representatives in yesteryears during the reigns of popular governments in Jammu & Kashmir and consequently they also failed to become sources of inspiration for the members of the DDCs belonging to their parties. While a leader has to lead a party but not to be led by the leaders of other parties wielding power and authority in the central government, the leaderships of regional political parties of Jammu and Kashmir had unfortunately set a wrong precedence of allying with the political parties in power at the centre and by doing so they have spoiled not only the mainstream politics but also the constitutional status of Jammu & Kashmir.
The DDC members have to keep in mind that instead of seeking a role for themselves they have seek their involvement and engagement in the decision making process as otherwise they like their political bosses will see their own political careers ruining by their own actions . Political wisdom demands that they understand the spirit of public representation and institutional empowerment of the people
Back in a new role as the political masters of the newly elected DDC members the top leaders of the mainstream parties spend more time in blaming central government for spoiling the constitutional status of Jammu & Kashmir and never bother to share their own experiences of public representation with the members of the DDC members of their own parties. Unless and until the leaderships of the mainstream parties don’t change their conduct and behaviour to guide the DDC members of their own parties rightly on institutional empowerment of the people, the spirits of the public representation won’t change the course of public representation for a better tomorrow in Jammu & Kashmir. The DDC members have to keep in mind that instead of seeking a role for themselves they have seek their involvement and engagement in the decision making process as otherwise they like their political bosses will see their own political careers ruining by their own actions . Political wisdom demands that they understand the spirit of public representation and institutional empowerment of the people
