Notification issued for first phase of panchayat bypolls

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 15

The Election Authority today issued the notification for the conduct byelections for the panchayat polls to elect sarpanches and panches in the first phase of the eight-phase elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the notification issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, who is the Election Authority under the J&K Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, the first phase elections will be held in 77 blocks spread over 16 districts across Jammu and Kashmir.

The byelections to fill 12,650 vacant panchayat seats are the first major electoral exercise in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories in August last year.

The elections are being held for 11,639 vacant seats for panches and 1,011 for sarpanchs in 20 districts of the Union Territory. This time, the elections to the sarpanch and panch seats are being held on a party-basis notwithstanding the fact that main leaders of Kashmir-based mainstream political parties are still in detention. In 2018, the elections to sarpanch and panch seats were held on a non-party basis.

In the first phase, the elections will be held in Pahalgam and Dachnipora blocks in district Anantnag, Ganastan, Nowgam and Sumbal in district Bandipora, Kandi Belt Rafiabad, Rafiabad and Pattan in Baramulla District, Sukhnag and Beerwah in Budgam district, Safapora, and Sheerpathri in Ganderbal district, Behibagh in Kulgam district, Wavoora, Sogam, Rajwar and Handwara in Kupwara district, Kakapora (partly) and Pampore in Pulwama district, Zainpora in Shopian district, Harwan, Khonmoh, Srinagar and Qamarwari in Srinagar district of the Kashmir division.

In the Jammu division, the byelections would be held in Bhalwal Brahmana, Khour, Samwan, Khara Balli, Pragwal, Akhnoor, Maira, Mandrian, Chowki Choura, Mathwar, Bhalwal and Marh blocks of Jammu district, Poonch, Balakote, Mankote and Mendhar in Poonch district, Manjakote, Panjgrain, Lamberi, Siot, Dangri, Rajouri, Doongi, Qila Darhal, Nowshera Seri, Sunderbani, Darhal, Thanamandi, Planger, Budhal, Rajnagar, Khawas, Kalakote and Moughla in Rajouri district, Bhamag, Thakrakote, Pouni, Reasi, Panthal and Katra in Reasi district, Purmandal, Bari Brahmana, Vijaypur, Samba, Nud, Sumb, Ramgarh, Ghagwal, and Rajpura in Samba district, Jaganoo, Narsoo, Tikri and Udhampur block of Udhampur district.

The last date for making nominations is February 22, while the date for the scrutiny of nominations is February 24. The last date for the withdrawal of the candidature is February 26.