Jammu & Kashmir Government Initiates Preparations for ULB Elections: Revision of Voters and Delimitation of Wards

16-06-2023 : The government of Jammu & Kashmir is taking steps to prepare for the upcoming urban local bodies’ (ULB) elections in the region. The Housing & Urban Development Department has announced its intention to request the chief electoral officer (CEO) to revise the electoral rolls in urban areas. Additionally, the government plans to carry out the delimitation of wards in urban areas before finalizing the election schedule, as per sources.

To oversee the process, Anil Koul, Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department, has been appointed as the nodal officer responsible for conducting the municipal elections. His role includes coordinating with the CEO, deputy commissioners, commissioners of municipal corporations, and the Director of Urban Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. The nodal officer will submit a request to the CEO for revising the electoral rolls in the municipal areas and will also consider the inclusion or exclusion of wards in consultation with the respective Municipal Corporations and Municipalities.

Furthermore, the government has designated deputy directors and secretaries of the ULBs and Municipal Corporations as liaison officers. These officers will provide assistance and ensure proper coordination with the nodal officer to facilitate the smooth conduct of the municipal elections in 2023.

Jammu & Kashmir currently has two Municipal Corporations, 19 Municipal Councils, and 57 Municipal Committees. The revision of electoral rolls and delimitation of wards will play a crucial role in ensuring fair and inclusive elections in the urban areas of the region.