state times news
Jammu: The Election Commission on Tuesday issued notification for the first of the five phases of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.
In the first phase due on 25th November, polls will be held in 15 Assembly segments spread across seven districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal in Kashmir Valley, Kargil, Leh of Ladakh region, Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban of Jammu region.
“As recommended by ECI in pursuance of Sub-section (2) of Section 27 of the said Act, the Governor of the State of J and K is hereby pleased to call upon the 15 Assembly constituencies in the State, to elect members to the Legislative Assembly in accordance with the provision of Act,” J and K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula said in the notification.
The last date for candidates to file their nominations is 5th November. The scrutiny of nomination papers would be held on 7th November while the last date for withdrawal of nomination is on 10th November, J and K Deputy CEO, Rakesh Kumar Srangal said.
He further stated that the date of counting of votes has been fixed for 23th December this year.
“ECI has fixed 8:00 AM hours to 4:00 PM as hours during which the poll shall, be taken in each constituency on the specified date,” Srangal said.
The EC on Saturday decided to go ahead with holding Assembly polls in the State devastated by last month’s floods and announced a five-phased election schedule to be held on 25th November, 2nd, 9th, 14th and 20th December.
The State Government has sought 565 companies of security personnel to ensure smooth elections.
In the first phase, the Assembly constituencies of Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Kangan, Ganderbal, Nobra, Leh, Kargil, Zanskar, Kishtwar, Inderwal, Doda, Bhaderwah, Ramban and Banihal would go to polls.
Congress and NC had bagged seven seats each while PDP took one seat in 2008 Assembly polls.
Nine each assembly seats in Kashmir and Jammu regions will be going to polls in the second phase on 2nd December. Of these, maximum of six are in Udhampur, five in Baramulla, four in Anantnag and three in Jammu.
The notification for the second phase will be issued on 7th November with date of polling 2nd December. The third phase, for which polling will be held on 9th December, will cover remaining seven seats of Baramulla Parliamentary constituency, five seats in Budgam of central Kashmir and four from Anantnag.
The current six-year term of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly ends on 19th January. Political parties too have started gearing up for the elections.
The fourth phase, for which notification will be issued on 19th November and polling held on 14th December, will cover nine Assembly seats of prestigious Srinagar city, seven remaining seats of Anantnag and two from Jammu parliamentary seat. Five seats of Udhampur Parliamentary seat and 15 of Jammu area, covering the nine Assemably seats of Jammu city, will go to polls in the fifth and final phase on 20th December. (PTI)