Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 27: The Union Territory (UT) is going to create history on Saturday because first time after 1947, District Development Councils (DDCs) elections are going to be held in J&K on November 28.
In the eight-phased DDCs elections, the polling for the first phase will be held on Saturday. Polling will be held in all the 20 districts of J&K including 25 DDCs constituencies of Kashmir Valley and 18 of Jammu province. 352 candidates are in the fray for 43 DDCs constituencies for the first phase. In this month-long process, elections will be held for 280 DDCs constituencies across J&K.
It is the first time in the political history of J&K that DDCs elections will be held. Earlier first time Block Development Councils (BDCs) elections were held in J&K in the year 2019.
Voters across J&K are also over enthusiastic because it is new experience for them to vote for DDCs elections.
The State Election Commissioner K K Sharma said the necessary COVID-19 Protocols have also been put in place for ensuring the forthcoming elections in a safe environment.
Reports that 2,644 polling stations have been set up and voting will take place from 7 AM to 2 PM.
The DDC elections, the first major political activity since the abrogation of Article 370 provisions on August 5 last year, will be held in eight phases from November 28 to December 19. The polling will take place t For the first phase of eight-phased elections polling will be held for 43 constituencies, 25 from Kashmir Valley, 18 from Jammu province on Saturday. 352 candidates are in fray for these 43 seats. 2644 polling booths have been set up, in which 703620 voters will exercise their franchise.
All mainstream political parties, including PDP, National Conference, People's Conference and Congress are contesting the polls as a united front against BJP and formed People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration to counter BJP and its alliance in the region while demanding the restoration of pre-August 5 status for J&K.
The campaigning for the first phase polls ended on Thursday evening in a peaceful manner and there was no untoward incident. The first phase voting will decide the fate of 1,475 candidates, out of which 296 candidates are contesting in the maiden DDC polls including 172 from Kashmir valley and 124 from Jammu region.
Security for the election has been strengthened after the terrorist attack in Srinagar on Thursday.
In the first round polling, 2644 polling booths have been set up, in which 703620 voters will exercise their franchise. The security forces were already aware that the terrorists are in a fix to prevent the election and there may be attacks. Security for the elections in Jammu and Kashmir has been strengthened after the terrorist attack on an army convoy near Srinagar on Thursday. Companies with 49 more security forces have been deployed for the elections along with security agencies deployed in the valley. | 