J&K Block Development Council 2019 Polls to Be Held Today, First Democratic Exercise After Abrogation of Article 370

Jammu & Kashmir, October 24: Since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the first democratic process will take place. Elections to Block Development Councils (BDC) will be held on Thursday. Adequate security arrangements have been made at the polling station for the panches and the sarpanches.

Reportedly, this is for the first time that over 26,000 panchs and sarpanchs from across the state — elected in November-December last year — will cast their votes in their respective blocks to elect the BDC chairpersons. Jammu And Kashmir: All Landline Connections to be Restored Across Valley by Tomorrow.

The polls will see 1,065 candidates in the fray across 310 polling stations, with Congress, NC and PDP boycotting the first electoral exercise after the abrogation of the state's special status. There are 26,629 electors -- 8,313 women and 18,316 men to elect chairpersons of BDCs, officials said.

According to a PTI report, there are 316 blocks in the state, but the election will take place in 310 as two of them are without elected panches and sarpanches, and four blocks reserved for women have no women candidates, the officials said. Ballot boxes will be used in the election.

The highest number of candidates are in north Kashmir's Kupwara district (101) and the lowest in south Kashmir's Shopian (4). Roughly  24 per cent (12,766) of the posts of panchs and sarpanches are lying vacant due to reasons, including resignations, deaths and non-conduct of the polls during the exercise held last winter.

Congress, CPI(M), National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) are not taking part in the elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 24, 2019 07:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).