J&K civic polls: 982 file nominations: Over 16 L eligible to cast vote

Over 16 lakh voters are eligible to vote in the four-phased Jammu and Kashmir urban local body polls that begin from October 8, officials said.

"As many as 982 candidates have filed their nominations for the four phases of the ULB and municipal polls in the Kashmir valley," a senior official of the state election department told PTI.

While the two major regional political parties, the PDP and the National Conference, have boycotted the polls, 982 other candidates have filed their nominations, another official said.

Officials said 179 candidates have been declared elected unopposed in the polls, which will be held in the backdrop of threats by terror groups.

In Devsar municipal polls, all the 8 candidates were declared elected unopposed, they said.

In Charar-e-Sharief (Budgam) 11 candidates were declared elected unopposed while the number of such victorious candidates was 10 in Bandipora's Hajin, they said.

Nine candidates each were declared elected unopposed to the civic bodies in