The Election Commission’s decision to not hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir drew flak from leaders across the political spectrum.
Citing constraints over availability of central forces and other logistics, the Election Commission on Sunday, 10 March, had said elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will not be held along with Lok Sabha polls..
The state will vote in the Lok Sabha elections in five phases on 11 April, 18 April, 23 April, 29 April and 6 May.
Centre Stands ‘Exposed’: Congress
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee President GA Mir said the government’s tall claims over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir stand “exposed” as the Centre has itself certified that the situation is out of control and not conducive for holding simultaneous polls, reported PTI.
“But, the Centre has once again failed to hold Assembly elections, citing the reason as volatile situation which is indicative of utter failure of the Centre to respect the urges and aspirations of the people,” he said.
Is There a Diabolical Motive, Asks CPI(M)
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury questioned how the security in Jammu and Kashmir is "good enough" to hold general elections and not Assembly polls, reported PTI.
"It is perplexing how the security situation in J&K is good enough to conduct Lok Sabha elections but not for assembly elections which are also due. Is there a diabolical motive?" Yechury tweeted.
Senior CPI(M) leader from Kashmir and former MLA MY Tarigami said the Election Commission’s decision has disappointed the people of the state.
“This was done despite almost all the political parties urging upon the Election Commission to hold both the elections simultaneously. Not holding assembly polls will send wrong signals to people within and outside the state,” he said.
The CPI(M) leader said J&K is without an elected government for the past nine months and in the absence of an elected government, “uncertainty in the state is deepening” day by day and “dissatisfaction” among a large section of people is increasing.
NPP supremo Bhim Singh said the EC’s decision to not hold simultaneous polls has exposed the double standards of the BJP and claimed that the government has deliberately deprived the people of the state of their constitutional rights.
NC, PDP Hit Out at Centre
Expressing his anger and pointing at the BJP-PDP’s mishandling of the state, National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah 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.”
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also expressed her anguish over the EC’s decision and said that the move confirms the “sinister” designs of the government.
Jammu and Kashmir is presently under President's Rule after the six-month-long governor’s 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 PTI)
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