Indian Union Home Ministry has ordered the deployment of 49 additional battalions of paramilitary CRPF to Jammu and Kashmir ahead of DDC elections, concerned quarters have been asked to make the arrangements including the desired scale of arms and ammunitions, special anti-riot equipments and winter clothing.
State Election Commission has already announced an eight-phase poll to 20 District Development Councils (DDCs) and vacant Panchayat and municipal seats, the government had in October amended the J&K Panchayati Raj Act to provide for setting up of District Development Councils in each district which will have directly elected members, marking the implementation of the entire 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the J&K.
While votes in first phase would be cast ballot on November 28, the last phase of polling would take place on December 19 and the counting of votes would take place on December 22.
While the election to DDCs and panchayat by-polls will be through ballot, by-election to municipal seats will be conducted through electronic voting machine (EVM).
All mainstream parties in Kashmir have announced to take part in the electoral exercise and most of them are fighting under the banner of People’s Alliance for Gupkar declaration. While DDC polls are being held on the party basis, panchayat by-polls are on non-party basis. The PAGD has said that its candidates would use symbol of respective party. (CNS)
