Panchayat by-polls likely to be held next month

SRINAGAR — The administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory is likely to hold Panchayat by-polls in nine phases next month, sources said.

Highly placed sources said that the government is contemplating to hold electoral exercise in the month of November to fill 13,000 Panch and Sarpanch seats. “The notification would be issued on 10th or 11th of this month, which will pave the way for imposition of model code of conduct in all poll-bound villages,” they said, adding that polling could be held between November 1 to 29.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the administrative council headed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had last month given nod for holding election to 12,168 Panch seats and 1089 Sarpanch berths.

The posts were lying vacant since November 2018 when the elections to the local bodies were held. Most of the seats that will go to polls are in the Valley.

According to sources, both the apex and divisional level committees constituted by the government over holding the polls have submitted their reports to the government.

The apex-level committee was mandated to draw a roadmap and detailed schedule for conduct of elections to vacant Panchayats and BDCs.