Srinagar, July 16 -- The government is expected to discuss 'holding of long-pending Urban Local Body (ULB) and Panchayat elections', soon after the annual Amarnath Yatra concludes on August 9.

The elections, once held, will mark a major step in reviving grassroots democracy in the Union Territory after a prolonged gap.

"We are committed to conducting the elections at the earliest and ensuring that democratic processes are restored at the grassroots. We will start the discussionon these crucial elections after the yatra concludes, a senior official, wishing anonymity, told a news agency.

The last ULB and Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2018. Their respective terms ended in October and December 2023.

The elections ...