Two months ago on 17 October, the centre amended the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act, 1989, to facilitate the setting up of District Development Councils, the members of which will be directly elected by voters in the Union Territory. The move marked the implementation of the entire 73rd Amendment Act in the Union Territory. The DDCs of each district shall have 14 constituencies with 14 seats for respective constituencies. This system effectively replaces the District Planning and Development Boards in all districts, and will prepare and approve district plans and capital expenditure. The key feature of DDC elections is that the DDCs will have elected representatives from each district. The term of the DDCs will be five years