SRINAGAR, (PTK): The first phase of urban local body (ULB) polls begin in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, but many here are “clueless” about the exercise with most of them complaining about not knowing their candidates or even when to vote.
The state’s two main parties —the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have boycotted the elections over the “lack of clarity” surrounding the Centre’s stand on legal challenges in the Supreme Court to Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
The NC and PDP’s boycott has made the polls a direct contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) amid an escalation in violence in the state.
Here are the live updates:
9:45am IST
Govt officials stops press from entering Handwara, Kupwara
Govt officials stops press from entering Handwara and Kupwara towns. Officials says reporters are a threat to voters.
9:15am IST
75 votes in 3 wards of Srinagar in first two hours
Seventy-five votes in three wards of Srinagar in first two hours of polling, say elections officials.
Mobile Internet services suspended in south Kashmir
Mobile Internet services have been suspended in south Kashmir in the view of the first phase of urban local bodies elections. Mobile Internet speed has been reduced to 2G in other parts of the Kashmir Valley.
Voting begins in districts of Anantnag, Jammu, Kargil
Voting begins in districts of Anantnag-4 wards, Budgam-1 ward, Bandipore-16 wards, Baramulla-15, Jammu-153, Kargil-13, Kupwara-18, Leh-13, Poonch-26, Rajouri-59 and Srinagar-3 wards.
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