Congress to take part in Jammu and Kashmir municipal, panchayat polls; party president takes decision to 'keep communal forces away'
In an earlier statement, Congress President GA Mir had said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was not favourable for holding elections
Srinagar: The Congress on Wednesday said it will participate in the upcoming municipal and panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media in Srinagar, GA Mir, President of Jammu and Kashmir Congress unit, said his party had decided to take part in the polls to "keep the communal forces away".
In an earlier statement, Mir had said the situation was not favourable for holding elections.
The National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have announced a boycott of the elections. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) has also decided to stay away from the polls.
While municipal elections for the two corporations of Srinagar and Jammu and 77 municipal committees are being held in October, the panchayat polls across the state are scheduled to be held in November-December.
also read
Four terrorists killed in encounters in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam, say police
Earlier on Tuesday, a Pakistani terrorist and his associate were eliminated in an encounter in the Hyderpora area of Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar
Hyderpora encounter: Ramban DDC chief warns of protest if 3rd victim's body not returned to kin
After the bodies of two civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter were returned to their families, the chorus for handing over the mortal remains of Amir Magray grew louder
J&K: Bodies of two civilians killed in Hyderpora encounter exhumed as magisterial probe begins
The latest development emerged after family members of the deceased along with political leaders staged protests, demanding justice in what they described as 'cold-blooded' murder