Lok Sabha polls to be held in five phases in Kashmir

Elections to Jammu and Kashmir's six Lok Sabha seats would be held in five phases beginning April 10, the state's chief electoral officer Umang Narula said Wednesday.

"All arrangements in this regard have been made and the model code of conduct has already come into force," he told media persons here.

The CEO said notification for Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat would be issued on March 15, last date of filing nominations would be March 22, scrutiny would take place on March 24 and March 26 is the last date of withdrawal of nominations. Elections would be held on April 10.

Notification for the Udhampur-Kathua parliamentary seat would be issued on March 19, last date of filing nominations would be March 26, scrutiny would take place on March 27 and March 29 is the last date of withdrawal of nominations. Elections would be held on April 17.

Narula said the notification for Anantnag parliamentary seat would be issued on March 29, last date of filing nominations would be April 5, scrutiny would take place on April 7 and April 9 is the last date of withdrawal of nominations. Elections would be held on April 24.

The CEO said the notification for Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary seat would be issued on April 2, last date of filing nominations would be April 9, scrutiny would take place on April 10 and April 12 is the last date of withdrawal of nominations. Elections would be held on April 30.

Notification for Baramulla-Kupwara and Ladakh parliamentary seats would be issued on April 12, last date of filing nominations would be April 19, scrutiny would take place on April 21 and April 23 is the last date of withdrawal of nominations. Elections would be held on May 7.

"As many as 9,633 polling booths would be set up in the state which is 500 booths more than that in the 2009 elections and these booths would be set up at 7,346 locations.

"Of these, 4,059 have been declared as sensitive keeping in view the law and order situation," he said.

He also said as on date, there are around 70 lakh voters including 32,75,241 female voters. and 58,279 service voters.

Narula said as per the guidelines of the election commission, enrolment applications are being accepted till March 9 and the commission has organised a display of electoral rolls at all booths.

He appealed the voters to check their names in the electoral rolls.

Narula said this year photo voter slips would be made available to the voters in their vicinity to facilitate their smooth voting.

He said so far, the state has attained 92 percent photo electoral rolls.

The first check of electronic voting machines (EVMs) has been done and the second check would be done after the selection of candidates, he said.

"The model code of conduct has come into force which would remain till the election process is over.

"In order to ensure this the election commission would appoint general observers, expenditure observers and awareness observers. Besides, all arrangements of security to ensure free and fair polls have been made.

"Videography, webcasting, photography of the polling booths would be done besides appointing micro observers to ensure free and fair polls," the CEO said.

Jammu's District Magistrate A.K. Sahu said flying squads have been constituted to check the violation of model code of conduct and a toll-free number 1077 has been set up for the purpose.