There is likelihood that panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir could be held in April-May after a gap of seven years.
The final electoral rolls for these panchayat polls were published last month on January 20.
The State Election Commission (SEC) of J&K has sought the procurement of election material which will be needed for the said polls.
The SEC has sought procurement of nearly 40,000 voting compartments and 64 other items required for conducting the panchayat elections, sources said.
The deadline of finalising the contract is March 11, and the items are to be supplied within a month thereafter.
There are a total of 38,800 polling stations in J&K, including 18,700 in the Jammu region and 20,100 in Kashmir.
With the term of the previous panchayats ending in 2023, almost over a year ago, the upcoming elections are expected to reshape the grassroots governance and politics in the region, marking a significant step in J&K’s evolving political landscape after the abrogation of Article 370.
After the conduct of panchayat and urban body polls, all democratic processes, including those at the grassroots level, will be completed in J&K.
The panchayat polls will be held with reservation in panchayats for backward classes as per the State Re-Organisation Act.