SRINAGAR: Claiming that prime minister Narindera Modi has “some designs” for J&K, Congress’ state chief Saifudin Soz Monday appealed the election commission of India to reconsider the dates for elections. He said that elections cannot be conducted in Jammu and Kashmir in December because of severe cold. National Conference too has made similar plea, asking the commission to consider the difficulties faced by people living in snow-bound areas.
Soz said that ECI must consult all political parties including opposition in Jammu and Kashmir before announcement of any dates for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
There is no doubt that ECI is a very strong institution and a great pillar of democracy in the country but it has to be truly democratic and to take all ground realities into consideration, Soz told a news agency while adding that during December the climate remains intensely cold in Kashmir, Ladakh and even many parts of Jammu region.
We know Modi may have some political designs in Jammu and Kashmir but all of us are prepared and alert to counter those designs. The ECI should remain steadfast with its democratic principles and should take all political parties in the state on board before announcing any dates for upcoming elections, Soz added.
Pertinently, the ECI may hold elections in the two states-Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand- in late December-early January. Reports said that ECI is in constant touch with the Union home ministry on assessing the requirement of forces and their allocation.
Reacting over the reports that the upcoming state elections in the state may be held in mid December or early January, the ruling National Conference Monday said that the election commission should consider the snow bound mountainous areas of the state.
NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said that the party has no objection with the decision of the Election Commission of India that the polls in the state shall be held in December- January. He maintained that the snow bound regions and the mountainous areas of Kashmir must be looked into so that election process in those areas could be held amicably.
He maintained that the new government in Jammu and Kashmir be formed around January 5. We in 2008 had the same schedule of elections. The last phase of elections in 2008 were slated during the last week of December in Srinagar while as in the far flung areas of the state, the process was already concluded.
Pertinently, the reports earlier informed that Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand may witness elections in late December-early January. The Election Commission is working on the schedules and may announce the programme for Maharashtra and Haryana by the middle of September.
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