J&K local body poll dates announced, voting to be held In 4 phases

Jammu and Kashmir Municipal body election will be held in four different phases between October 8 to October 16, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral officers Shaleen Kabra said on Saturday.

“The polling will be held on October 8, October 10, October 13 and October 16. While the counting of votes will take place on October 20,” Kabra told ANI.  Polling will be held from 7 am to 2 pm, Kabra added.

According to reports, EVMs (electronic voting machines) will be used for the first time in the state civic body polls. Migrants will be allowed to vote through postal ballot. Model Code of Conduct comes into force in the state, said Jammu and Kashmir CEO.

Municipal Elections shall be held in 4 phases. Date of polling would be Oct 08, Oct 10, Oct 13 & Oct 16. Counting shall take place on Oct 20 after all the phases are over. Poll hours will be from 7am to 2pm: Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/wqUYbIOo1K

— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2018

The dates of Jammu and Kashmir Municipal election comes a week later when former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah and National Conference boycotted the Panchayat election.

He said, “They will not cast vote unless or until Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) takes effective steps to protect the contentious article 35-A of the constitution. The controversial article 35-A is being challenged in the Supreme Court.”

Farooq Abdullah quoted as saying, “the core group of National Conference (NC) unanimously decided that the NC will not participate in these elections unless and until the government of India and the state government clarify their positions in this regard and take effective steps for protection of Article 35-A in and outside the courts.”

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir: NC to boycott local and Panchayat poll if no clarity on Article 35-A