Srinagar, August 22
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor today issued notification for the first phase of Assembly elections for 26 constituencies spread over six districts of the state, thereby setting in motion the four-phase elections in the state.

This he has done in pursuance of powers vested in him under Sub-Section 2 of Section 27 of Jammu and Kashmir Representation of People Act, 1957 on the recommendation of Election Commission of India calling upon the Assembly constituencies to elect their members in accordance with the provisions of the said Act and Rules and orders made thereunder. A notification to this effect was issued by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department, under SRO 316 here today, an official spokesman said.

The Assembly constituencies going to the polls in the first phase on September 16 fall within the districts of Baramula and Kupwara in north Kashmir, Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh region and Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu region. The four phase election schedule has been prepared due to security scenario in the state.

As per the notification, the existing 87-Member Legislative Assembly of the state, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue up to and including 17th of October 2002, and shall thereafter stand dissolved on the expiry of its duration. The notification further says that in terms of sub-section (1) of Section 27 of the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of People Act, 1957 (IV of 1957), a general election has to be held for the purpose of constituting a new Legislative Assembly of the State.

Meanwhile, the chief electoral officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Pramod Jain said here today that the contesting candidates will have to file two sets of affidavits along with their nomination papers. The candidates will have to give details of their conviction and imprisonment, if any, in one set and any charge sheet for any punishable offences in the other as part of the Supreme Court directive and compliance with the Right to Information of the electorate.