SMC Mayor election secluded for July 14th
Srinagar: Authorities at SMC Wednesday announced that elections for the post of Mayor Srinagar will be conducted on July 14.
Secretary SMC Wednesday issued a notification, a copy of which lies with news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service reads, “The Election of Mayor, Municipal Corporation, Srinagar will be conducted as per the given programme: a) Forms of Nomination Paper shall be obtained from the office of the Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation between 1100 hours and 1(00 hours from 9. July 2020 to 10. July 2020. b) Nomination Papers shall be delivered between 1100 hours in the Morning and 1600 hours in the afternoon by a Candidate or his Proposer at do office of the Secretary, Srinagar Municipal Corporation on any day not later than I I. ofJuly 2020. 01 Notice of withdrawal of candidature shall be delivered by a candidate at any time before the election is proceeded within the meeting. d) In the event or election being contested, do poll will take place on 14. of July 2020 from 1100 hours onwards.”
Parvaiz Ahmad Qadri, who is Acting Mayor SMC Tuesday also issued a notification asking SMC Commissioner to initiate process for the elections.
“Notification for fresh elections to the post of Mayor as per the Provision and relevant Section of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. Therefore Commissioner. SMC may kindly initiate necessary process for fresh elections to the post of Mayor as per the provisions and relevant section of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000,” the notification reads.
As per rules, a new mayor has to be elected within 30 days of the ouster/resignation of the previous one. On June 15, Junaid Matoo, the former Mayor of SMC couldn’t prove his major and had to step down from the post.
Congress corporators followed the party whip and abstained from the voting but two NC Corporators in violation of the party whip voted against Junaid, who, however, announced that he accepts the verdict.
However, since June 15, hectic lobbyism is going on among corporators of all the political parties.
What created ripples in the political circles recently was the call recording of the female corporator from Dalgate, who claimed that one of the political parties was backing Imran and would ensure he gets the Mayor’s post. She was, however, reprimanded by the party high command for her comments. Later Imran too denied any links with any political party.
Sheikh Imran had also clarified that he was not behind the ouster of Junaid Matoo from post of Mayor.