Security Establishment Wants Assembly Polls Deferred To Nov Or Next Year

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Security Establishment

Srinagar: The security establishment in Jammu and Kashmir has conveyed to Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct assembly elections in the state in October-November period or defer it to next year.

Top sources told GNS that the security establishments have cited the tourist season, the holy month of Ramzan and the Amarnath Yatra, beginning July 1, besides disruption in schooling and farming seasons. They said that given the meager turn out of voters in the parliamentary polls, there was likelihood that the “trend may continue.”

“The feedback has been given. The assembly polls should be conducted in October-November or if the MHA wants, then next year,” they added.

J&K has been functioning without an elected government since the PDP-BJP coalition fell apart in June last year.

On Tuesday last, the Election Commission of India deferred its decision regarding conduct of the assembly elections in the state and decided to seek “further clarification from MHA on certain aspects”. The poll conducting body also said it will seek opinion of an eminent legal expert in the context of ongoing President’s Rule in the state before talking the decision on assembly elections in the state.

 “It was decided to seek further clarification on certain aspects of the issue from Ministry of Home Affairs,” the EC said. “It was also decided to seek the opinion of an eminent Legal Expert in the context of ongoing President’s Rule in Jammu & Kashmir,” it said.

On March 10, when the ECI announced the schedule for the ongoing Lok Sabha election, it had said the polls to the Assembly will not be held simultaneously. It had cited the law-and-order situation in the state for delaying the Assembly polls.

The government of India and the state administration, being managed by the Centre-appointed governor, were against holding the two elections together. However, all political parties in the state spoke in favour of simultaneous polls during a meeting with the EC. (GNS)

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