Election preparations in full swing in J-K

Srinagar, Sept 21 : Preparations are in full swing to elect a new Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir with poll officials working round the clock to prepare voters' identity cards in time.

The Election Commission has held a meeting with political parties in the state to decide on poll dates.

Election officials in Srinagar said process was on to make the voters' identification cards within a stipulated time frame.

"In Srinagar alone 2,30,000 cards have been made so far, and around 1.1 million cards in all have been made including all the nearby districts. Some areas have been left out but soon enough the formalities of making the cards in those areas will also be completed," said Altaf Ahmed, an election official.

The process of making the voter identity cards began in June this year and the officials said they were confident of preparing an estimated 2.5 million voters' cards in the Valley.

B.R. Sharma, Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir said, "The process of making the cards began from June-July. At present, the checklists are being made. The check list of Budgaum District has been generated and the check lists of other eight districts of the valley are also under the process of being made and will be generated by the end of this month, which will then go in for field checks. The booth officers will be directed to check the details. And we hope that by the end of October we will have completed the entire process."

Around 45, 000 officials are expected to be deployed at polling booths across the valley during the election.

ANI