India, Sept. 16 -- The clock is ticking in Jammu and Kashmir, and it's not just the winter chill creeping in. In just four months, by mid-January 2026, the District Development Councils (DDCs)-the last standing piece of local democracy in our Union Territory-will pack up unless fresh elections breathe new life into them. These councils, born in January 2021 after a historic vote, gave people a real say in the developmental matters of their districts. But with the State Election Commission (SEC) sitting idle without a boss for over four months, and no sign of key prep work like seat rotation or redrawing boundaries, we're staring at a big gap in grassroots governance and J&K's people deserve better.
Back in 2020, after decades of waiting, ...