DDC elections on November 28 in Jammu and Kashmir, first election since repeal of Article 370

-Some by-elections will also take place simultaneously

Jammu 5th November 2020 Thursday

The first elections after the repeal of Article 370, which gives special status to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, will be held here on November 28. This election belongs to the District Development Conference. The extent to which the locals have accepted the central government's decision to repeal Article 370 will come from this election.

State Election Commissioner KK Sharma said elections for 20 district development councils would be held here on November 28. Simultaneously, by-elections will be held for the vacant seats of Panchayat and Nagarpalika. In order to hold these elections, the Central Government had in October this year amended the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act so that every district had a District Development Council and elected members.

The first round of elections on November 28 will be officially announced on Thursday. Senior Returning Officer Hridesh Kumar said the last phase of the polls would be held on December 19 and counting of votes would take place on December 22. Elections will be held in eight phases. Ten DDCs are to be formed in Jammu district and ten DDCs in Kashmir district. There will be 14 polling stations for each DDC. Panchayat by-elections will be held by ballot papers and municipal elections will be held by EVM.

People from the Valmiki community and Gurkhas who have come here from Pakistan will also be able to vote in this election. No political party has yet announced whether it will run in the elections.