The elections for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which was dissolved after the ruling coalition between the BJP and the PDP fell apart, will not be held along with Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission announced on Sunday, 10 March.
For Lok Sabha elections, the state will vote in five phases on 11 April, 18 April, 23 April, 29 April and 6 May.
Questioning the EC’s decision to not hold simultaneous polls in the state, National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah slammed the Modi government for its “failure.”
He wrote on Twitter, “In light of the failure to conduct Assembly elections on time in J&K I’m retweeting my tweets from a few days ago. PM Modi has surrendered to Pakistan, to the militants & to the hurriyat. Well done Modi Sahib. 56 inch chest failed.” (sic)
Questioning Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s ‘assurance’ on holding simultaneous polls, the NC leader said, “What happened to Rajnath Singh’s assurance to Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha as well as to the all party meeting recently in Delhi that all forces would be made available for simultaneous polls?”
Further, expressing his anger and pointing at the BJP-PDP’s alleged mishandling of the state, Abdullah said, “In 2014, we had Lok Sabha elections on time & assembly elections on schedule even after the most devastating floods. Shows how badly the BJP & earlier the BJP-PDP mishandled J&K.”
Confirms Govt’s Sinister Designs: Mehbooba Mufti
On Sunday, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti expressed her anguish over the EC’s decision and said that the move confirms the “sinister” designs of the government. “Not letting people elect a government is antithetical to the very idea of democracy. Also a tactic of buying time to disempower people by pushing an agenda that suits their ulterior motives,” she said.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, who also expressed his disgruntlement over the EC decision, said, “All parties are in favour of holding simultaneous polls. Environment is conducive for Lok Sabha polls but not state polls in J&K? Local body polls were held peacefully, there are enough forces present, then why can't state elections be held?”
Monitoring Situation in J&K: EC
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora – who announced the schedule for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on Sunday – said the poll panel was constantly monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Constrains of availability of central forces and other logistics, requirement of central forces for security of candidates in the wake of the recent incidents of violence and keeping all other challenges in mind, the EC has decided to announce only the parliamentary elections at this stage," Arora was quoted as saying by IANS.
Arora said the decision to not hold the two polls simultaneously was taken based on inputs given by all the stakeholders, including the Home Ministry, political parties, central and state agencies, and district administrations.
Jammu and Kashmir is presently under President's Rule after the six-month-long Governor rule ended on 19 December last year.
Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases – beginning 11 April – and results will be announced on 23 May, the poll panel said on Sunday.
(With inputs from IANS)
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