Governor decides to hold polls to local bodies in J&K

While suspense continues over formation of an elected government, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has decided to set the ball rolling for holding polls to urban local bodies and panchayats in April by discussing the schedule with leaders of political parties.
"The Governor will be holding discussions with leaders of political parties regarding the schedule for elections to the urban local bodies and panchayats," a Raj Bhavan spokesperson said here today.
The Chief Secretary was advised by the Governor to draw up an action plan for holding of elections to all the urban local bodies in April this year, the spokesperson said.

The Governor also directed the Chief Secretary to ensure provision of requisite funds in the budget for holding the elections and for timely filling up of the vacancies in the office of Chief Electoral Officer.
Vohra has advised the Chief Secretary to review all pending issues to enable timely elections to the urban local bodies and panchayats in the state, he said. The Governor was reviewing the matter with Chief Secretary B.R. Sharma and Chief Electoral Officer Shantmanu in a meeting held at Civil Secretariat.
Vohra noted that early holding of elections to the urban local bodies will enable democratic decentralisation of powers to the institutions at the grass root level in the urban areas to address all the issues relating to urban local self government.