JD(U) will take part in BDC polls: Shaheen

The Janta Dal (United) on Friday said it will take part in the upcoming Block Development Council (BDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

The schedule for the elections to 316 BDCs will be announced soon with the polls to be completed before J&K is formally declared a Union Territory on October 31.

"Our party has decided to take part in the block development council elections. We do not want these polls to be a one-sided contest for the BJP," president of the state unit of the JDU, G M Shaheen told reporters.

He said that the JD(U) cadres have been told to brace themselves for the polls in Kashmir, Kathua and Jammu.

"When the poll schedule will be announced in October, we will take part in it", Shaheen said.

Of the total 316 BDCs, 147 are in Jammu region, 136 in Kashmir and 31 in Ladakh.

Welcoming the abrogation of Article 370, he said while the Union government talks about the concept of 'one India one nation', there are 64 laws including the stringent Public Safety Act which must be done away with.

Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam chaired a video-conference with the deputy commissioners (DCs) of the Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh divisions on Tuesday to review the preparations for the BDC polls, implementation of the 'Back to Village' programme and procurement of apples.

The chief secretary asked the DCs to gear up for the polls.