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WEB DESK
All preparations have been completed to conduct urban local bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir beginning tomorrow. The authorities have put in place a highly structured security plan for at least next two months in Kashmir region in particular.
State Governor Satya Pal Malik took a detailed review of the security situation in the state yesterday. The meeting was attended by top officials from Army, Police, CRPF, intelligence agencies and civil administration.
Security forces have intensified checking and area domination for the smooth conduct of the polling. The elections to 2 municipal corporations, 3 municipal councils and 72 municipal committees in the state shall be covered in four phases from 8 to 16 October.
Meanwhile, campaigning for the first phase ended today, 24 hours before the start of voting involving 422 wards spread across all the three regions. Polling will start at 7 in the morning and will end at 4 pm.
The fate of 1,283 candidates trying their luck from Jammu region, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh will be sealed in the EVMs tomorrow.
There are no prominent faces who are contesting in the municipal elections though several women candidates belonging to Congress and BJP are in the fray.
The two main regional political parties National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have decided to boycott the elections. AIR-