For the first time after the repeal of Article 370 and the reorganization of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, the territory of the union will go to the polls on Saturday. In addition to being the first election since August 5, 2019, what makes these elections stand out is the formation of the Gupkar alliance before the elections and the exchange of criticism between the Gupkar leaders and the BJP leaders before the elections. The National Conference, the Peoples ‘Democratic Party, the Communist Party of India (M), the People’s Conference of Jammu and Kashmir, the Peoples’ Movement, the Awami National Conference came together to form an alliance with Farooq Abdullah as president and Mehbooba Mufti as vice president of the coalition. The BJP has criticized the coalition as anti-national and has questioned Congress about its stance on the alliance’s agenda. Congress distanced itself from the alliance and said it is not part of it.
Here’s everything you need to know about the District Development Council election:
1. The election will be held in eight phases starting today. It will continue until December 19.
2. The scrutiny will take place on December 22.
3. There are 1,427 candidates in the fray and more than seven lakhs of voters are eligible to vote.
4. Of the 7 lakh voters, more than 3.72 lakh are from the Kashmir division and 3.28 lakh are from the Jammu division.
5. 2,146 polling stations have been set up.
6. In phase 1, there are 296 contenders, including 207 men and 89 women.
7. The contest is between the People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration, the BJP and the Apni Party proposed by former Finance Minister Altaf Bukhari.
8. There are 280 DDC seats in the Union territory, 140 each in the Jammu and Kashmir regions. 43 districts will go to the polls in the first phase: 25 in Kashmir and 18 in Jammu.
7. For the partial elections to the panchayats, 899 candidates competed for the Panch seats and 280 for the sarpanch seats.
8. 145 companies of the central forces of the armed police have been deployed in the UT for the proper conduct of the elections.
9. These elections will be held using ballot papers.
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