Srinagar, Mar 08 (KNS): As the by-polls for two Parliament seats are yet to be held in the Kashmir valley, the Election Commission of India is likely to announce the decision of conducting elections within two days which would be held before April 15.
Two parliament seats of Srinagar and Anantnag in Kashmir valley fell vacant following the resignation of Tariq Hameed Karra and Mehbooba Mufti taking over as chief minister after the death of her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir, Shantmanu said that the decision for conducting by-polls for the two vacant Parliament seats will be taken by the Election Commission of India.
“Election Commission of India will announce the decision of conducting by-polls on the two seats within two days. The by-polls will be held before April 15,” Shantmanu told KNS.
He said that electoral rolls for holding of by-polls have been completed.
The CEO recently held meeting with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, District Development Commissioners of Srinagar and Pulwama and other concerned officials to review preparations for the by-elections of Anantnag and Srinagar constituencies.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The CEO had directed them to expedite necessary arrangements for smooth conduct of by-elections to two Parliamentary constituencies in the State.
On holding elections for Pachayats, Shantmanu said that the polls will be held after the Parliament elections are completed.
“Once by-elections to Parliament seats are completed, we will gear up for Panchayat elections as early as possible,” the CEO said, adding that the state government has not sent any proposal for holding the panchayat polls.
He said that the delimitation of panchayat wards has been completed and the process of completing electoral rolls is in full swing.
The panchayat elections were necessitated after the term of the panchs and sarpachs in the state expired in May last year.
However, due to uprising last year the elections for parliament and panchayat were deferred.
Asked whether the situation in the state was conducive for conductions elections, the CEO said that in the past several elections were held in the state despite the situation then being volatile. (KNS)