This is an archive article published on September 19, 2018
J&K: On first day, only four nomination forms issued, none submitted
For most of the day, the officials at the District Election Offices were waiting for the candidates to receive and submit their nomination forms. But no one turned up except at Bandipore, where nomination forms were issued to four candidates.
In central Kashmir, election notification was issued for three municipal committees of Budgam district and some parts of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)
On the first day of submission of nomination forms for the municipal polls in Jammu & Kashmir, only four nomination forms were issued by the elections offices across valley while no one submitted his nomination form, election officials said on Tuesday. While most of the valley drew blank on the first day, the four nomination forms were issued in Bandipore.
For most of the day, the officials at the District Election Offices were waiting for the candidates to receive and submit their nomination forms. But no one turned up except at Bandipore, where nomination forms were issued to four candidates. “We have issued four forms today but no one has submitted his nomination form on the first day,” Deputy Commissioner Bandipore Shahid Choudhary told The Indian Express. The polls for the Bandipore Municipal Committee – comprising 43 wards – are slated for October 8. The last date for submitting nomination is September 25.
On Tuesday, the government issued notification for 13 municipal committees, a municipal council and parts of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
In south Kashmir, the ground zero of militancy, no nomination form has been received or issued in the two districts of Kulgam and Anantnag that are going to polls in the first phase. In Anantnag district, three municipal committees – Achabal, Kokernag and Qazigund – are going to polls on October 8 while two municipal committees – Kulgam and Devsar – are going to polls in the first phase.
“Nobody came to take the nomination form today,” said Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Sahmeem Ahmad Wani. An election official in Anantnag said they had not issued any nomination form on Tuesday in any of the three municipal councils.
In the twin districts of Baramulla and Kupwara in north Kashmir, one municipal council – Baramulla – and two municipal committees of Kupwara and Handwara are going to polls in the first phase. On Tuesday, no nomination form was issued or submitted in these districts.
“We have not issued or submitted any nomination form today,” said Deputy District Election Officer Baramulla Sameer Jan. “But some people came to us today asking for the procedure to submit the nomination forms,” he said. Kupwara election cell in-charge Ghulam Mohammad Malik said: “We have not issued any nomination form in Kupwara or Handwara municipal committee today.”
In central Kashmir, election notification was issued for three municipal committees of Budgam district and some parts of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. However, no one turned up at the District Election Offices in these two districts. The municipal polls for the 40 municipal committees, three municipal councils and a corporation would be held in four phases from October 8 to October 16.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
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In central Kashmir, election notification was issued for three municipal committees of Budgam district and some parts of Srinagar Municipal Corporation. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)
