J&K admin ends house arrest of leaders in Jammu ahead of civic polls

In a big move ahead of Block Development Council elections, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to end the house arrest of all the political leaders in Jammu, sources said. All the leaders of Congress, PDP, National Conference and Panther's Party who have been asked not to hold any political activity after Abrogation of Article 370, have been conveyed on Tuesday that their house detention has ended and they are free to carry out any political activity, the sources added. More details are awaited in this story.

READ | Amit Shah: Removal of Article 370 biggest diplomatic win for PM Modi

Block Development Councils (BDC) polls in J&K

The election authorities on Tuesday issued a notification for the election of chairpersons of Block Development Councils (BDC) in the 310 blocks of Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar, while issuing the notification, said the elections will be held on October 24. According to the notification, the last date for filing of nominations will be October 9, while the scrutiny of nominations will be done on October 10. The last date for withdrawal is October 11.

READ | Amit Shah to address seminar on NRC in first post-polls Kolkata visit

Block development polls on Oct 24

On October 24, the polling will be held from 9 am to 1 pm. The counting of votes will begin at 3.00 pm on the same day, Kumar said. The poll process for the second tier of the Panchayati Raj system will be completed by November 5, he said. The elections will be held on party basis and 26,629 panchs and sarpanchs are eligible to vote and contest for the post of BDC chairpersons, Kumar said. Nearly 24 per cent (12,766) of the posts of panchs and sarpanchs are vacant due to various reasons, including resignations, deaths and non-conduct of the polls during the exercise held last winter, he said.

READ | Amit Shah on Article 370: PM fulfilled Syama Prasad Mukherjee's dream

Voters in J&K

In the Jammu region , there will be 2,703 voters in Jammu district, 2,687 in Rajouri, 2,069 in Poonch, 893 in Samba, 2,186 in Kathua, 2,072 In Udhampur, 1,339 in Reasi, 1,150 in Ramban, 1,900 in Doda and 1,016 in Kishtwar. In the Ladakh region, there will have 841 voters in Kargil and 744 in Leh. In the Kashmir region, there will be 2,783 voters in Kupwara, 1,450 in Baramulla, 584 in Bandipora, 374 in Ganderbal, 43 in Srinagar, 650 in Budgam, 132 in Pulwama, 82 in Shopian, 168 in Kulgam and 763 in Anantnag.

Elections will be held for 310 of the 316 blocks in the state. Elections could not be held in two blocks, while there are no women in four blocks reserved for women candidates.