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More troops to monitor J&K local polls

The Jammu and Kashmir government approved the panchayati election schedule, at a special cabinet meeting in the state's winter capital Tuesday.

The Centre is sending 60 companies of paramilitary forces to Jammu and Kashmir for smooth conduct of the polls in the troubled state.

Sources said that the additional troops would arrive before the start of the election process.

A senior official said militants may step up their activities. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has asked people to boycott the polls, which are being held after 23 years.

The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and attended by state ministers, decided to complete the eight-phase massive exercise covering 23000 constituencies of village panches and sarpanches (village headmen) by March 16 next year.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley, while announcing the decision after the meeting, said the polls would be held on a non-party basis through secret ballot, for the first time.

The results will be announced the same day and after freezing poll symbols of various parties, candidates will have the choice from a range of free symbols.

Immediately after announcement of the poll schedule, Jaitley met top police and other officers in Jammu to review arrangements. He directed deputy commissioners to take steps for the smooth conduct of polls.

The chief secretary claimed that the "exercise will evoke tremendous response from people".

Jaitley told the meeting that panchayat institutions were "vital for socio-economic development" as "these are going to be the basic unit for development in the new development strategy".

The chief secretary said that the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act1966 had been amended to provide for 15 days canvassing after the last date of withdrawal of nominations, instead of the earlier 35 days.

Elections in the troubled valley districts will be completed in the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth phases.

There will be 21,000 constituencies of panches and 2700 of sarpanches and 35.35 lakh voters are eligible.

The state government will deploy 80,000 poll staff; they include 1000 returning officers -- one for three panchayats. They will be supported by about 2000 assistant returning officers, besides 44,000 polling officers -- two for each polling station -- while 22,000 attendants and 11,000 presiding officers will be deployed.

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