The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat elections will held in nine phases from November 17 to December 11, the state election officer said on Sunday. Shaleen Kabra, J&K Electoral Officer, said that poling will be held on November 17, 20, 24, 27 and 29 and December 1, 4, 8 and 11.
Counting of votes will take place on the day of polling itself, adding that mode of voting will be done through ballot paper. The state election commission had yesterday announced that the urban local body elections (ULBs) in Jammu and Kashmir be held in four phases from October 8 to 16. Earlier, it was reported that the panchayat elections may be deferred following the announcement by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) that they will boycott the elections until the Centre clears its stand on Article 35-A. However, notwithstanding the boycott call, the Centre was in favour of going ahead with the panchayat and urban local bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir feeling that grassroots democracy must get precedence over any other consideration.
The Centre has also been of the opinion that the release of around Rs 4,300 crore meant for the development of rural and urban areas in Jammu and Kashmir will not be possible until there are elected representatives in panchayat and urban local bodies.