In Jammu & Kashmir, the State Election Authority has issued gazette notification today under J&K Panchayati Raj Rules, 1996, calling upon elected members of all the Halqa Panchayats of blocks to elect Chairpersons of the Block Development Councils in Jammu & Kashmir state.<br />'' <br />''The Election Authority in its notification, however, said that no elections will be held in Srinagar block, S K Pora block in Budgam district, Shadimarg and Newa blocks in Pulwama district, Kapran block in Shopian district and Pombay and Manzgam blocks in Kulgam district in Kashmir Valley.<br />'' <br />''The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shailendra Kumar announced polling schedule for the conduct of Block Development Council Elections (BDCs) to elect Chairpersons of Councils in the state on Sunday.<br />'' <br />''The last date for making nominations is 9th of October and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is 11th of October. The polling date has been fixed as 24th of October and counting of votes shall be undertaken on the same day.<br />'' <br />''Over 26000 Panchs and Sarpanchs will be eligible to vote in upcoming Block Development Council elections. The electors include 8,313 female voters and 18,316 male voters as per the final electoral rolls. Kashmir Valley has over seven thousand electors including over five thousand male and 1,900 female voters.<br />'' <br />''Unlike last year's Panchayat Elections on non-party basis, the election of Chairperson of BDCs shall be held on party lines and one Block is taken as one constituency and all the elected Panchs and Sarpanchs of the Halqa Panchayats falling within the block constitute the Electoral College for that block.<br />'' <br />''These Chairpersons shall be members of District Development Boards in the State.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Out of 316 BDCs, the elections shall be held for 310 such Councils with two blocks where there are no elected Panchs or Sarpanchs besides four blocks reserved for women where no women Panch or Sarpanch is available.</span><br />