Election arrangements reviewed in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, Sep 18: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer B.R. Sharma Thursday reviewed with the district election officers of the Valley the arrangements for the forthcoming elections to the 87-member state assembly.

There would be 9,113 polling stations for 6.54 million voters across the state for the elections that are due before the year end.

"Measures for the smooth conduct of free and fair elections were discussed threadbare. The meeting took stock of verification and continuous updating of electoral rolls," a statement issued by the election office said here.

Steps to be taken for sending election material, electronic voting machines and manpower to far off places were also discussed.

The district magistrates of the 10 districts in the Valley are also the ex-officio district election officers.

The Election Commission of India is yet to make a formal announcement about the poll schedule.

In the wake of unprecedented violence and mass frenzy both in Hindu-majority Jammu region and the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley during the last two months, it was felt that the assembly elections might be deferred by a few months.

The state was put under Governor's Rule July 7 after the People's Democratic Party withdrew support to the coalition government headed by chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress.

--IANS