__630_630.jpg)
The first phase of urban local body (ULB) polls begin in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday with two mainstream state parties -- National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party -- boycotting the elections over the challenge to the validity of Article 35-A of the Constitution.
The first phase of polling began Monday which will be followed by the second phase on October 10, the third phase on October 13 and last phase on October 16. The counting of votes will be done on October 20.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and independent candidates are the only contestants.
Unprecedented security arrangements have been put in place by the state authorities and the election commission, to ensure peaceful polls. Also, all candidates have been provided with either cluster security in hotels or individually in the Valley.
The polling began starting at 7 AM, will culminate at 4 PM later today.
According to the Election Commission, a total of 1283 candidates will be contesting in the 422 municipal wards today. This time large numbers of independents candidates are also in the fray.
This municipal election is also witnessing two significant firsts. In a major development, in these municipal polls, first-time electronic voting machines are being used, in accordance with the rules that have been amended in 2016.
In another first, Election commission is also providing voting by the migrants by means of postal ballots. Since the migrants continue to be enrolled in the respective assembly constituencies from which the municipal committees or panchayats would derive the rolls, therefore the facility will be provided for them to vote.
The counting of votes will be done on October 20.
Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam had also announced that the Centre would provide a one-month extra salary to all those government employees who will be on poll duty.
(With ANI inputs)