J&K BDC polls today amid high security arrangements
The polls will be held in 309 blocks across the state; as many as 1,012 candidates in the fray
SRINAGAR: High-level security arrangements have been made for the block development council (BDC) polls, which are being held for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Thursday.
The major opposition political parties––congress, National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have boycotted the polls as the leaders of these parties are currently under detention.
The opposition leaders have blamed the government for giving cakewalk to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the polls.
The polling will begin in the morning and conclude at 1pm. The counting and results will be declared on the same day.
JK& director general of police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said he had visited different districts and held meeting with senior officials in connection with the security of these polls. “We have made elaborate arrangements for the BDC polls at every place. I hope these polls will be held in a peaceful manner.”
The elections will be held in 309 blocks across the state and 1,065 candidates had filed their nominations, however, after withdrawal 1,012 candidates are in the fray. Already 27 candidates got elected as BDC chairmen unopposed and 15 of them belong to the BJP while others are independent candidates. Most of these candidates got elected from the Valley. From Kupwara, as many as 109 candidates are in the fray followed by Baramulla with 99 candidates. Only elected panches and sarpanches form the electoral college for these BDC polls.
Holding of polls especially in Kashmir couldn’t be an easy task, as Valley is still shut since August 5 when Article 370 and 35A was abrogated. Though restrictions have been removed from all parts of the Valley, but security is in place at every place.
Officials said they have apprehensions that militants might target places where polls will be held on Thursday, however, three tier security arrangements have been made at the places where voting and counting will be held. Last year, though panchayat elections witnessed good turnout, however, in south and central Kashmir at many panchayats not a single person filed nominations for the polls and elections were deferred which were never held. J&K governor Satya Pal Malik always boasts of holding last panchayat elections without any fear and said that panchayats will be empowered by holding BDC polls.