Srinagar: Amid demands and queries from mainstream camp over the release of leadership ahead of Panchayat by-elections, the Election Commission (EC) will hold a meeting with political parties tomorrow (Tuesday) to hear their grievances.
In an exclusive chat with wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shailendra Kumar said that he has called a meeting of political parties tomorrow (Tuesday) following the statements given by mainstream leaders over the elections.
Almost all the political parties here have raised the query about the continuous detention of their leadership, saying that how can they contest the elections when the leadership mandated to sign the nomination papers have been put under continuous detention and booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
Kumar when asked about the demands said that he has called a meeting of political parties tomorrow to redress their issues. “Any issue they (political parties) want to bring into my notice, I will definitely address that,” he told KNO.
However, sources said that an order was also issued in this regard, which stated that the leadership including president and General Secretary of any party who are mandated to sign the nomination papers can authorize any person (leader of the party) to do the formalities.
The Election Commission (EC) on last Thursday announced by-elections for over 12500 vacant Panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that eight-phased polls will be conducted from March 5 to March 20.
Kumar while addressing a presser had said that elections for the vacant 12,565 Panchayat seats will be held in eight phases. “The first phase of polling will take place on March 5, while the second phase is scheduled for March 7. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eight phases of voting will take place on March 9, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 respectively,” he said.
The Panchayat by-elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on party-basis. (KNO)
