J&K panchayat polls in 9 phases

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 16

Amid an uncertain security scenario and boycott by Jammu and Kashmir’s two major political parties — the PDP and NC — the state election commission on Sunday announced nine-phase panchayat elections beginning November 17.

As many as 58,12,429 eligible voters in 4,490 panchayat halqas will directly elect 35,096 panchayat members — panches and sarpanches — on a non-party basis, said Chief Electoral Officer K Shaleen Kabra.

Polling would be held on November 17, 20, 24, 27, 29 and December 1, 4, 8 and 11. The counting of votes would take place on the day of polling or the following day.

In the first phase, Bandipora, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kargil, Kupwara, Leh and Srinagar in Kashmir, and Doda, Kathua, Kishtwar, Poonch Rajouri, Ramban and Udhampur in Jammu will vote.

The volatile districts of south Kashmir — Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama — where authorities are  facing an uphill task of maintaining peace, will vote in the second phase. The state election commission had yesterday announced four-phase municipal elections from October 8. The model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect.

The PDP and NC have decided not to participate in the elections, saying the Centre and state governments need to clear their stand on Article 35A, which provides special citizenship rights to the residents of J&K.

Governor Satya Pal Malik, who recently took charge, decided to go ahead with the polls to “strengthen democracy at the grassroots”.

The decision to hold civic and panchayat elections was first taken by former Governor NN Vohra soon after Governor’s rule was imposed in the state on June 20. The election schedule was finalised at the Vohra-led State Administrative Council meeting on July 9, but the matter was not publicised as it was to be discussed with security and poll officials, said sources.

J&K witnessed its first panchayat elections in 1974, after which only a few panchayats went to the polls in 2000.

Elections were held in all panchayats in 2011, when the NC-Congress government was in power. The elections were due before June 2016 but owing to security situation, these got delayed.

Panchayat members have faced threats from militants with 16 representatives having been killed in attacks since 2011. The CEO said the election authorities could not provide security to every candidate and that there was a need to create an environment to ensure free and fair elections.