Jammu and Kashmir: 8 phase maiden DDC polls from Nov 28

The polls for the vacant seats of sarpanchs and panchs and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) would also be held simultaneously with the DDC Polls.

The government had in October amended the Jammu and Kashmir 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 union territory.

The DDC poll would be the first major political activity to take place in J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year. Addressing a press conference, the newly appointed State Election Commissioner K K Sharma said that the polls would take place through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) while postal ballots would be available for Covid-19 patients in isolation, senior citizens and physically unwell patients.

DDC elections will be held on party basis whereas Panchayat byelections will be held on non-political basis, he said. Sharma said that electoral rolls used in Sarpanch and Panch elections that have been updated on January 1, 2020, will be used for the DDC polls. “With the announcement of DDC polls, model code of conduct is in vogue from today onwards,” he said.

The first formal notification for the first phase of elections will be issued on November 5.

Five standing committees -- one each for finance, development, public works, health and education and welfare -- will be constituted in every District Development Council.

The DDC would be responsible for the formulation of development programmes and speedy development and economic upliftment of the area under its authority.

Sharma informed the delimitation has been done for the constituencies and 280 DDCs have been identified across the J&K.

"The term of the DDC will be for five years. Sharma said that West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs), who were recently given domicile certificates, would also be entitled to exercise their right to vote. “Each DDC will have 14 constituencies,” Sharma said.

The polls would also be held subsequently for 228 vacant seats of ULBs.

“The expenditure limit for the DDC polls per candidate is Rs 5 lakh, one lakh for Sarpanch seat and Rs 50,000 for Panch seat,” Sharma said.

The mainstream political parties that include National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference (PC) and Congress, who have recently formed a People’s Alliance for the restoration of Article 370, are yet to decide to participate in the DDC polls.

Preparatory meeting of ROs, AROs held SRINAGAR, NOV 04: Office of the District Panchayat Election Officer Srinagar Wednesday organised a preparatory meeting-cum-training of Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) regarding the conduct of upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections in Srinagar.

During the meeting master trainers apprised the participating officers about guidelines and instructions to be followed to ensure successful conduct of the said elections.

The meeting also included an interactive session comprising questions and clarifications surrounding the conduct of the DDC elections.

On the occasion RO books were also distributed among the participating officers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Deputy District Election Officer, Nodal Officer DDC Elections Srinagar (SDM East) and frontline staff of District Election Office Srinagar were present on the occasion.