Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 7: Even as the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole has issued a fresh list reserving 358 municipal wards out of 1,119 for women and sought objections and suggestions to it within a week, the list has left some of the Kashmir based political parties allegedly “worried about their vote bank stakes.”
According to data released by the election department, of the 1,119 wards of 77 municipal bodies in the Union territory, 358 wards have been reserved for women. Eighty-six wards have been reserved for SC and 14 for ST.
In accordance with section 10-A of the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, and Section 11-A of the Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, wards are to be reserved for women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, the CEO said in the notification issued on September 5.
The CEO invited objections and suggestions in relation to the notification. “Any objections and suggestions should reach the CEO, Nirvachan Bhawan Jammu, or Darul Intikhab, Srinagar, within 7 days from the issuance of this notice till September after which no objections or suggestions will be entertained,” PK Pole said.
The largest number of 25 wards each have been reserved for women in Srinagar and Jammu civic bodies, followed by reservation of eight wards in Anantnag, seven each in Baramulla, Spore, Udhampur and Kathua districts.
Sources said the Kashmir based parties including the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference and the Apni Party are “apprehensive over the implementation of the list as it can affect their vote bank stakes.”
Sources said the parties apprehend that such reservation could hit prospects of their prominent faces contesting from their respective constituencies where they hold public support.
Sources said some of the parties have already started holding formal meetings to decide future course of action and to come up with the reply.
The sources said NC, PC and Apni Party would file objections to the same in the coming days.
Despite repeated attempts the concerned party leaders were not available for comment. |
