Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: In a significant decision towards holding Urban Local Bodies’ elections in Jammu & Kashmir which are due later this year, the Housing & Urban Development Department will place a formal request before the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for undertaking revision of electoral rolls. The Government will also carry out delimitation of wards in urban areas of J&K before unveiling the schedule of polls.To begin with, the Housing and Urban Development Department today appointed Anil Koul, Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department as Nodal Officer for the conduct of forthcoming Municipal elections in the UT.According to an order issued by the Housing & Urban Development Department, the Nodal Officer will coordinate with Chief Electoral Officer, all Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Municipal Corporations and Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu/ Kashmir for placing request to the CEO for undertaking an exercise for revision of electoral rolls in the Municipal areas.His terms of reference also include inclusion/ exclusion of Wards in consultation with concerned Municipal Corporations and Municipalities.The Government has also ordered that the Deputy Director/ Secretary of respective ULBs/ Municipal Corporations shall be the liaison officers and shall provide all assistance and proper coordination to the Nodal Officer for smooth conduct of Municipal elections, 2023.“The term of the incumbent Municipal Corporations and other Municipalities is ending in the month of October- November.The last ULB polls in Jammu & Kashmir were held in the month of October 2018 when the erstwhile State was under Governor’s Rule.