JAMMU, Sept 20: Stating that the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections will be held on time, the officials on Wednesday revealed that the Electronic Voting Machines have been dispatched to all the districts of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The officials further revealed that training for the polling staff has also been started in all the districts of J&K.
“The training of the polling staff is underway,” Secretary, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Parminder Kour,told Rising Kashmir.
She, however, denied having any information regarding further development in the conduct of ULB elections in J&K.
Meanwhile, reliable sources revealed that the EVMs have also been dispatched to all the districts of J&K UT as a step forward towards preparations for holding ULB elections in the UT.
It was revealed that after the training of polling staff is completed, the District Election Officer (DEO) will appoint Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs).
Pertinent to mention, the 77 ULBs include both the municipal corporations of J&K UT i.e the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
On September 5, the Chief Electoral Officer , K. Pandurang Pole, in an order, had proposed a draft for reservations in all the 77 ULBs of J&K.
Once this is done, the dates for ULB elections will be notified after which the randomisation of the EVMs will be done. In its order, the CEO had proposed to reserve 25 wards for women in SMC, while 25 wards for women, 10 for Schedule Castes and two for Scheduled Tribes were proposed to be reserved in the Jammu Municipal Corporation.
The term of the JMC and SMC is going to end on October 29 this year and technically the elections must be held before the expiry of term of the Corporations.
