Srinagar 18 November (KNB): Union Home Ministry has ordered the deployment of 49 additional battalions of paramilitary CRPF to Jammu and Kashmir in wake of the ensuing Panchayat election, officials sources said.
Officials stated that the deployments are being moved from various states to J&K and concerned quarters have been asked to make the arrangements including the desired scale of arms and ammunitions, special anti-riot equipments and winter clothing.
Pertinently, State Election Commission had announced an eight-phase poll to 20 District Development Councils (DDCs) and vacant Panchayat and municipal seats, in the first major electoral exercise since the effective nullification of Article 370 in August last year.
In October, the government amended the J&K Panchayati Raj Act to provide for setting up of District Development Councils in each district, which will have directly elected members, marking the implementation of the entire 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the J&K.
As per officials, votes in first phase would be cast ballot on 28th of November, the last phase of polling would take place on 19th of December and the counting of votes would take place on 22nd December.
Officials stated that while the election to DDCs and panchayat by-polls will be through ballot, by-election to municipal seats would be conducted through electronic voting machine (EVM).
Important to know that all mainstream parties in Kashmir have announced to take part in the electoral exercise and most of them are fighting under the banner of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
Pertinently, while DDC polls are being held on the party basis, panchayat by-polls are on non-party basis, about which PAGD said that its candidates would use symbol of respective party. (KNB)