Jammu And Kashmir to See First Election After Article 370 Repeal, Block Development Council Polls to be Held on October 24
The elections for Block Development Council (BDC) will be held in Jammu and Kashmir on October 24. The dates were announced by the state administration on Sunday. Earlier this month, a meeting was also convened by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam with Deputy Commissioners of the state. The election dates were reportedly discussed in the meeting.
Srinagar, September 29: The elections for Block Development Council (BDC) will be held in Jammu and Kashmir on October 24. The dates were announced by the state administration on Sunday. The elections are taking place for 310 BDCs out of 316 across Jammu and Kashmir. Voting will begin at 9 am and continue till 1 pm across the state. The counting of votes will begin from 3 pm on the same day. Jammu and Kashmir Loses Privileges Under Article 370, Article 35A: What Does it Mean For Kashmiris and Other Indians?
This will be the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 was abrogated in the state. Earlier this month, a meeting was also convened by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam with Deputy Commissioners of the state. The election dates were reportedly discussed in the meeting. Before announcing the date, security arrangements were reviewed in the state.
However, the assembly elections in the state are still pending. The state Assembly was suddenly dissolved in November last year by Governor Satya Pal Malik. The state administration had also opposed simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Kashmir Turmoil: What Article 370 And Article 35A Say About J&K And Its Accession to India.
The BDC elections in the state are taking place days after the Narendra Modi government scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by diluting Article 370. The state was also divided into two union territories – J&K and Ladakh. After the special status was scrapped from Jammu and Kashmir, internet and telephone services were suspended in the state. Currently, the blockade is only imposed in the Kashmir Valley to avoid terrorists from spreading fake messages for enticing people of Kashmir.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 29, 2019 07:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).