Notification for 3nd phase of Assembly polls issued in J

Srinagar, Nov 4 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today issued notification for holding elections in five more Assembly constituencies in the third phase of the seven-stage poll on November 30.

The constituencies, going to polls, are Kupwara, Karnah, Lolab, Handwara and Langate.

While November 11 will be the last date for the filing of nominations, scrutiny of the papers will be held on the next day.

The last date for the withdrawal of candidature is November 14.

The Governor, in exercise of powers vested on him under the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of People Act, 1957 and as recommended by the Election Commission of India (ECI), has also issued the notification for holding the elections in five constituencies in the third phase, an official spokesman said here.

A total 448 polling stations are being set up for the 3,41,946 voters, including 163389 female to cast their votes in these constituencies. There are a total of 942 service voters, including 245 female in the district.

Earlier, Mr Vohra has issued similar notification for holding elections in 16 Assembly segments in the first and second phases, which will go to polls on November 17 and 23 respectively.

In the first phase Gurez, Sonawari and Bandipora in north Kashmir, Nobra, Leh, Kargil and Zanskar in Ladakh region and Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch-Haveli in Poonch district will go to polls on November 17.

While in the second phase Kangan, Ganderbal, Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote are going to polls on November 23.

The ECI, after holding several rounds of talks with the national and local political parties, besides top brass of the security agencies, announced seven-phase poll schedule for Jammu and Kashmir on October 19.

All the mainstream political parties have agreed to join the democratic process while the Awami National Conference (ANC) is contesting the polls for the first time since 1987.

The Assembly was dissolved on July 10 after the Ghulam Nabi Azad headed Congress-coalition government was reduced to minority following the withdrawal of support by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the Shri Amarnath shrine land issue.

UNI BAS SW SK RK1339