The Election Commission today announced the first-time, seven-phase assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir.

At a press conference in New Delhi, the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy said, "The Commission has decided that elections will be held in seven phases in J&K and first phase will begin on November 17."

The second phase of elections are scheduled be held on November 23, the third phase on November 30 and the fourth phase on December 7. The fifth, sixth and seventh phases will be held on December 13, 17 and 24.

“There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda,” said CEC.

He also said that "As per the Constitution of J&K, polling will be held in 87 Assembly seats out of which seven seats are reserved for SC/ST. The counting of votes will be held on December 28."

The last time that J&K had witnessed elections was in 2002. It was a four phase election, held in more than 14,000 polling stations.

44 percent of the overall state population had taken part in voting. But only 29 percent of the population in the Kashmir valley voted while Srinagar constituency had recorded the lowest turnout.

The NC president Omar Abdullah said his party seems to be all prepared for the upcoming elections but Omar Abdullah has expressed his concerns about the voter turnout.

"Some form of democracy is better than no democracy. There is no option now but to bite the bullet," said Omar.