Voter queues in Jammu, Low turn out across Kashmir, Internet Speed reduced to 2G, Media bared

The Municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir that is taking place after a gap of 13 years, on Monday witnessed long queues in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts while people barely arrived in the valley booths that wore a deserted look. Enthusiastic voters lined up outside the polling stations in Gandhi Nagar, R.S.Pura, Arnia, Jurian, Khour, Akhnoor, Bishnah, Nowshera, Surankote, Kalakote, and at many other places from 7 a.m., as the polling began. In the valley, the scene was just the opposite as the first phase of civic polls began…

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Unopposed, BJP wins majority in Shopian, Candidates moved to ‘Secure’ places in J&K

While candidates in fray for the urban local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir have been moved to “secure places” after the names of some went viral on the social media, the BJP has secured a majority in the militancy-infested Shopian district with its 13 candidates elected unopposed. Twenty municipalities will go to the polls on October 13. But the strength of candidates being insufficient, voters in only four of these municipalities will cast their vote. “Many candidates will be elected unopposed. With no nominations, most wards will remain unrepresented,”…

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Blot on democracy, BJP importing candidates to Kashmir: Congress

With a majority of the candidates declared elected unopposed in the urban local bodies elections in south Kashmir, the Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP of “importing” nominees and making a mockery of the grassroots-level democracy. The BJP, however, termed the charges as “baseless and unfounded” and rubbished the allegations as the Congress’ attempt to hide its failure to field candidates in Kashmir. Facing the heat for making it a virtual walkover for the BJP in the south Kashmir by not fielding candidates in most of the seats, J&K Pradesh…

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At least 215 candidates elected unopposed across Kashmir Valley

As the filing of nomination for all the four phases of Urban Local Bodies (UBL) polls in Jammu and Kashmir has ended, 215 candidates have been elected uncontested. The filing of nomination papers for the 4th phase of ULB polls ended today. The 4-phase polls for 79 ULBs in the State would be held on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. Sources said at least 215 candidates in the Valley, who filed their nomination papers for the polls, have been elected unopposed while in over 150 wards, no candidate has…

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PDP, NC activists intimidating BJP candidates: Ram Madhav

Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary, on Friday said like separatists and terror groups, activists of the PDP and the National Conference (NC) were also intimidating candidates filing nominations for the civic bodies elections in the Valley. “We have received information from different parts of Kashmir that PDP and NC workers have threatened BJP activists who filed nominations for the civic bodies elections,” Madhav, who was in Srinagar on Thursday, told mediapersons here. “We have already lodged complaints with the police in this regard and investigation has been initiated,” he…

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Pakistan rakes up Kashmir Issue at OIC, India calls it ‘Unwarranted’

Lodging strong protest over Pakistan raking up the Kashmir issue at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, India on Thrusday called the act “completely unwarranted” for the grouping as well as its member countries to discuss matters related to India’s internal affairs in any multilateral set up. It was on Wednesday when Pakistan raked up the Kashmir issue at the OIC Contact Group meeting held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. “We always note with regret that the matter which is very internal…

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Barring south Kashmir, polls draw good response across state

Barring terror-hit south Kashmir, candidates have given good response to the second phase of the urban local bodies poll in Jammu and Kashmir with about 1,200 candidates filing nominations for 384 municipal wards in 13 districts. While no candidate came forward to file nomination for the Frisal municipal committee in the trouble-torn Kulgam district even on the last day of filing of nominations for the second phase on Thursday, as many as 81 candidates filed their papers for 20 wards of the Srinagar municipal corporation (SMC). Two municipal committees of…

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Despite poll boycott, PDP, NC field proxy candidates

The duplicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) has been exposed as both the parties have fielded proxy candidates from a majority of the 247 wards of 15 urban local bodies going to the polls in the first phase across the Jammu region. This has happened despite the PDP and NC announcing a boycott of civic bodies elections in the state over Article 35A of the Constitution. While second-rung leaders of the two parties are contesting elections as Independents in most wards, some top leaders have…

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Amid acid attack warnings, J&K govt announces extra month’s salary for state’s panchayat poll volunteers

To create a sense of security among the government employees in Jammu and Kashmir amid the looming militant threat over Urban Local bodies and Panchayat polls, the government has decided to give one-month additional salary to those employees to those who will be deployed for election-duty in the upcoming electoral exercise. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary V R Subrahmanyam on Tuesday said that the state employees will get additional one-month salary for poll duty. During a press conference in Srinagar, he said the state government’s move is aimed at pleasing…

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Polls will happen despite ‘Dynastic’ political parties boycotting them: Ram Madhav

BJP national general secretary and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir Ram Madhav said on Tuesday that two dynastic political parties have boycotted the upcoming local body elections because they don’t want power to go outside their family. “We have taken a pledge to conduct local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Two parties of the state which are dynastic parties and who have never wanted power to go out of their families have boycotted the elections. They thought if they won’t contest, who would conduct the elections,” said Madhav. Addressing…

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