EROs, AEROs nominated for ULB polls
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 17: Facing criticism from most of the opposition parties as well as ruling partners, the Government has finally given a nod to the Election Department to hold elections to Urban Local Bodies in May-June.
As a prelude to holding of the elections more than two years after the civic bodies ceased to exist, the Election Department has formally announced revision of electoral rolls from April 20 and designated Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs for the purpose.
A total of 81 civic bodies including two Municipal Corporations and rest Municipal Councils and Committees would go to the polls.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Election Department has ordered revision of electoral rolls from April 20 in all 85 ULBs.
One month time has been given to EROs and AEROs to complete the revision of electoral rolls.
The electoral revision was expected to be completed in the middle of May after which, if everything goes well, the election schedule would be issued for the Municipalities. At least 21 days time gap has to be maintained between issuance of election schedule and first phase of election.
For rest of the election phases, 15 days gap has to be maintained between issuance of notification and holding of elections.
According to sources, the process for revision of electoral rolls and publication of final rolls would be completed by May 15 or May 20 after which the election schedule could be announced.
They said draft rolls have been prepared for almost all civic bodies after which the Election Department has decided to undertake a major electoral exercise for revision of electoral rolls.
Under the revision, the voters within the jurisdiction of ULBs can add or delete their names and file claims and objections for corrections. The final voters lists would be published by May 15 or 20 after admitting or rejecting claims of voters for addition/deletions etc.
There were 14.34 lakh voters when elections to civic bodies were last held in January 2005. The civic bodies had completed their five years term in March 2010 but since then elections to them hadn’t been held on different pretexts.
Sources said number of the electorates in civic bodies could witness an alarming jump as new voters, who had attained the age of 18 during last seven years, would be eligible for voting in the Municipalities. Moreover, some new Municipal Committees have been added to the list while additional area has been allocated in certain ULBs, which would lead to significant increase in number of voters.
Sources said first phase of elections could begin as early as first week of June if everything goes well. While there would be no problem in holding elections to Municipal Committees in Kashmir and Ladakh in the month of June, Jammu region would be facing summer season at its peak.
Worthwhile to mention here that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had announced recently that the Government was committed to hold elections to Municipalities. He had also said that there was no option left to secure blocked grants for urban development but to go for reforms including holding of elections and imposition of property tax etc by the Local Bodies.
The Central funds worth several crores had been blocked due to delay in holding of elections to the ULBs, sources said, adding though the funds are non-lapsable, they would be granted by the Centre to the State only when elections were held to the Municipalities.
It may be mentioned that the Centre has agreed to release
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