Despite poor voter turnout in the recently-concluded civic bodies’ elections in J&K, State Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra on Monday announced the schedule for the panchayat polls. “The elections to 316 blocks in 4,483 panchayat halqas comprising of 35,029 panch constituencies will be held from November 17 to December 11 in nine phases,” he said.
The last panchayat elections were held in 2011 after a gap of 10 years and completed its term in July 2016. The elections were repeatedly deferred due to volatile situation in the valley in the past three years.
A total of 58,54,208 voters were registered for the polls, “In Kashmir division, 29,91,128 voters are registered, while in Jammu Division the number is 28,63,080 voters,” said Mr. Kabra.
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Migrant Kashmiri Pandits would be provided facility to vote in panchayat elections through postal ballot.
“All critical events will be video-graphed and concerned deputy commissioners will arrange sufficient number of video and digital cameras and camera teams for the purpose,” said the CEO.
The announcement came despite two main regional parties, Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference, deciding against participating in these polls.
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Due to boycott by the regional parties and separatists boycott call, the recently-concluded civic bodies elections saw just 35.1 percent in the State. In Kashmir, the voters turnover was less than eight percent.