Stage set for J&K panchayat polls amid tight security

The first phase of panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held Saturday amid heightened security, militancy threat, state’s two main parties staying away from the fray, and voters complaining that they didn’t have any information about the candidates.

The panchayat polls will be held in nine phases from November 17 to December 11.

The National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, the two main parties of the state, have boycotted the elections over the “lack of clarity” surrounding the Centre’s stand on legal challenges in the Supreme Court to the state’s special status. Both the parties had not contested October’s urban local body polls over the same issue. The separatists have also asked people to observe a day-long strike against the polls

Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Rafiabad area in Baramulla, said people in his area did not know who the candidates were. “The election process has started... We don’t even know even who is contesting. Even those who have filed nomination papers don’t dare to announce their candidature,” he said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, security officials did acknowledge that holding polls will be tougher than last month’s civic polls.

Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen had in January warned former panchayat members against contesting the elections.

SRINAGAR:

Tourists dressed in traditional attire take a selfie at the annual Pushkar Camel Fair 2018, in Pushkar, on Friday. The annual fiveday livestock fair is one of the largest camel fairs in the world.