In first phase, 47 blocks to go to polls

Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 23

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K, on Tuesday issued the notification for the first phase of panchayat elections in which 21 blocks of the rural development department of the Jammu division will go to the polls on November 17.

These 21 blocks fall in seven districts of the Jammu division, which include Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch.

Overall, 47 blocks, including 16 from the Kashmir valley and 10 from the Ladakh region, will go to the polls in the first phase.

The candidates will get a week’s time to file the nomination as the last date for filing the papers is October 30. The nominations will be scrutinised on October 31 and the last date for withdrawal is November 2.

The CEO has put the far-flung blocks where snowfall is a routine in winter in the first phase. In Kishtwar district, Dachan, Bunjwah, Marwah, Padder and Warwan blocks will come under the first phase whereas in Doda district, Bhalessa, Changa, Jakyas and Chilli Pingal blocks will go to the polls.

Ramsoo and Khari blocks of Ramban district, Dudu Basantgarh, Latti Marothi, Panchari and Moungri blocks of Udhampur district, Bani and Duggan blocks of Kathua district, Manjakote and Panjgrain blocks of Rajouri district and Buffliaz and Surankote blocks of Poonch district will also go to the polls in the first phase.

The state government had announced the nine-phase panchayat elections on September 16 and the CEO had yesterday announced the detailed schedule for the elections.

The last panchayat elections were held in 2011.