Panchayat elections in J&K to be held under strict security this year: SEC Shantmanu

‘No one will be allowed to use party symbol’

Arvind Sharma

Jammu Tawi, May 06: The panchayat elections in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be held this year under unprecedented security on non-party basis and no one, participating in the elections, will be allowed to use party symbol, said State Election Commissioner (SEC), Shantamnu.

In an exclusive interview with the Northlines, the SEC, Shantmanu, said that special summary revision of the electoral rolls has been going on and after completion of this process the Panchayat elections will be held this year in J&K.

In response to a question regarding the timeline for holding Panchayat elections in the UT of J&K, the SEC said, “the ground is clear for holding these elections as revision of electoral rolls has been going on and the final publication of electoral rolls will be put in public domain on 21st of this month”.

After the culmination of the holy Amarnath yatra, the Panchayat elections in J&K will be held under unprecedented security, the SEC said.

With regard to the security arrangements for holding panchayat elections in the J&K UT, the SEC said, “Maximum security forces, as per requirement will be deployed for ensuring peaceful and transparent Panchayat elections”.

The security forces will be deployed in J&K for Panchayat elections as per the directions of different central agencies.

It may be mentioned that the State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to buy forty thousand (40,000) more ballot boxes for the panchayat elections.

Already, 30,000 ballot boxes have been sent to the different districts of J&K for smooth conduct of the Panchayat elections.

In response to the question regarding 40,000 more ballot boxes required for holding Panchayat elections the SEC Shantmanu said, “the tendering process has been initiated and it will be finalized on 10th of this month”.

On 21st of this month, final publication of electoral rolls will be put in public domain, the SEC said. When questioned about the voters participating in the Panchayat elections, the SEC said, “There is an unprecedented increase in voters for the panchayat elections.

“In an encouraging sign, there is an increase of voters in different districts of J&K for Panchayat elections ranging between 4-5% and overall there is an increase of 3% voters in the Panchayat elections,” the SEC said.

After the final publication of electoral rolls, a meeting will be held by the Union Home Ministry with the J&K government during which the final call will be taken for holding panchayat elections in J&K, the CEC further said.