J&K Panchayat Election: Chief Electoral Officer issues notification for phase-II by-polls

J&K Panchayat Election: The Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer Shailendra Kumar on Monday issued notification for holding the second phase of panchayat by-elections in 55 blocks of 14 districts of the Union Territory, an official spokesperson said. The by-election for 12,650 panches and sarpanches in Jammu and Kashmir is to be held in eight phases from March 5 to March 20. However, the Congress party has said that it would participate in the J&K Panchayat Elections if its leaders are released.

J&K Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar had on Saturday issued the notification for the first phase of the eight-phase of bypolls.

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While the J&K CEO has issued notification for the J&K Panchayat Election by-polls, the Congress party has said that it would participate in the J&K panchayat Election by-polls if its leaders are released and their free movement is ensured. 

"We challenge the BJP and the government to ensure the release of all Congress leaders and allow their free movement with adequate security, the party is willing to take part in the ongoing elections, despite strong reservations over the mode and manner of unilaterally conducting these elections on party basis, without taking all recognised mainstream parties on board," J&K Congress president Mir told reporters here.

Taking strong exception to the government "unilaterally" announcing the by-elections to panchayats on party basis, he said the first elections to these bodies were held on non-party basis but still the Congress is not averse to the bypolls and would contest it, "if all our leaders are released and allowed all sorts of genuine political activities in a secure atmosphere".

The Modi government is yet to reply to this conditional participation of the Congress party in the J&K Panchayat Elections. (With inputs from PTI)