The by-elections to over 12,000 panchayat seats in Jammu and Kashmir have been deferred for three weeks following “credible inputs from the law enforcement agencies”. The panchayat elections were held in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, and a total of 27,281 panches and sarpanches were elected. Also read | Ready for panchayat bypolls but release leaders: NC writes to ECIOn February 18, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar held a meeting with all political parties amid criticism that political leaders remained in detention. Mr. Kumar issued a notification later in the day. The Congress also demanded the lifting of curbs in J&K for "any candidate to get a peaceful and free atmosphere".

Source: The Hindu February 18, 2020 18:44 UTC