Srinagar: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Shaileen Kabra on Monday announced that the polling for Panchayat constituencies and halqas will be held from November 17.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar at the Old Secretariat, Kabra said that the total number of voters who are going to exercise their franchise in the polls are 5854208, adding that a total of 4483 Panchayat halqas and 35029 Panchayat constituencies are going for polls in nine phases.
He said that in Kashmir division there are 2991128 voters while as 2375 and 18833 Panchayat halqas and constituencies respectively.
Kabra told reporters that the districts that have large number of halqas and constituencies will go for polls in several phases. “We have made adequate arrangements for the polling and we will ensure free and fair elections like recently held Municipal elections,” he said.
CEO JK further said that the Panchayat polls that will begin from November 17 will culminate on December 11. “For the first phase, the last date for filing nominations will be on 30 October while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be on 2 November,” he said.
He said that for second phase that will be held on 20 November, the last date for filing nominations will be on 2 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 5 November.
For third phase that will be held on 24 November, the last date for filing nominations will be on 5 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 8 November, he said, adding that for fourth phase that will be held on 27 November, the last date for filing nominations will be on 8 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 12 November.
He said that for fifth phase that will be held on 29 November, the last date for filing nominations will be on 10 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 14 November.
Kabra added that for sixth phase that will be held on 1 December, the last date for filing nominations will be on 13 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 16 November.
For seventh phase that will be held on 4 December, the last date for making nominations will be on 9 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be on 19 November, he said, adding that for eighth phase that will be held on 8 December, the last date for making nominations will be on 12 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be on 22 November.
The CEO further added that for the final and ninth phase, the last date for filing nominations will be on 22 November while as the last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 26 November.
He refused to comment over the low voter turnout in the recently held ULB polls, saying that they did everything from advertising to notifications. “You can ask this question to any other person who will be relevant to have comments in this regard,” he added.
Kabra when asked about barring media persons from entering in polling booths said, the media persons can observe the things even from outside the booths and all this could have been done for the satisfaction of voters.
(With inputs from KNS)
