SRINAGAR: Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Ghazanfar Ali today said all the officials and councilors of the civic body are ‘eager’ to have an elected Mayor so that the developmental work of the Srinagar city does not affect.
Ali said that a total of six councilors had submitted their nomination papers while three have withdrawn their candidature till date and the remaining three candidates are in fray.
He said the elections for the post of Mayor will be held well on time with strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.
“All SMC officials and councilors are desperate to have an elected Mayor so that the developmental work of the Srinagar city is not affected at all, hence it was necessary to conduct these elections without any further delay,” Commissioner SMC told reporters here.
He further said that the elections were earlier deferred due to the restrictions imposed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pertinently, government had in September deferred Mayoral elections by three months. The post of SMC Mayor fell vacant on June 16 and was to be filled up within a period of one month in terms of Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000.
However, on July 15 the election was deferred till September 15 in terms of the amendment made by the government in the rules, citing the health pandemic due to COVID-19.
He said elections for the vacant post of Mayor will be conducted on 25th of this month; and voting will begin at 11 AM at the SMC Corporate Hall. He also said that all the security arrangements are being put in place to ensure transparent, safe and secure conduct of Mayoral elections.
Ali appealed to all the councilors to follow all COVID-related SOPs including use of face masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing while participating in the election process.
“Election will be held on 25th of this month for which notification was issued on 19th. Six councilors had submitted their nomination papers out of which three withdraw their candidature and three are in fray. Polling will begin at 11AM at SMC Corporate Hall,” Ghazanfar Ali informed.
