SRINAGAR, Oct. 15 -- J&K's major mainstream parties like National Conference, the PDP and Congress have decided to boycott the upcoming Block Development Council polls. This has put a question mark over the entire exercise. However, the Election Commission has already announced the dates for the elections. But in the absence of the three major mainstream parties which between them control more than two-thirds of the electoral space in Valley and also wield a significant political clout in Jammu and Ladakh regions, the BDC polls are unlikely to be a success. This has also created a difficult situation for the governments in the state and New Delhi which cannot make the polls appear credible if the major parties boycott it.
State government ...