MHA orders deployment of 49 additional battalions of CRPF for DDC, Panchayat polls in J&K

18-11-2020: In Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Ministry has ordered the deployment of 49 additional battalions of Central Reserve Police Force in the wake of the upcoming Panchayat and District Development Council elections. AIR Jammu Correspondent reports that the paramilitary personnel are being moved from various states to J&K and the concerned authorities have been asked to make the arrangements including the desired scale of arms and ammunition, special anti-riot equipment, and winter clothing.

State Election Commission has already announced an eight-phase poll to 20 DDCs and vacant Panchayat and Municipal seats, in the first major electoral exercise since the revocation of Article 370 in August last year. The government had in October amended J&K Panchayati Raj Act to provide for setting up of District Development Councils in each district which will have directly elected members, marking the implementation of the entire 73rd Constitutional Amendment in the J&K.

The votes in the first phase would be cast on November 28 and the last phase of polling would take place on December 19. The counting of votes would take place on December 22. While the election to DDCs and Panchayat by-polls will be through ballot, by-election to Municipal seats will be conducted through EVMs. All mainstream parties in Kashmir have announced to take part in the electoral exercise and most of them are fighting under the banner of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).