National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah on Friday wrote to the Election Commission of India asking it to “postpone the J&K Assembly elections” to March- April next year in view of the heavy snowfall in the state.
An unusual November snowfall covered the Valley on Friday.
An party release said Omar Abdullah has “urged the Election Commission of India to postpone the state assembly elections due to the inclement weather.”
He pointed out that the “vagaries of weather will not permit the poll process to be conducted smoothly. He said the electorate will not be able to exercise their franchise and the political parties will not be able to campaign in view of the snowfall not only in the upper reaches of the Valley but also in Srinagar city which has never ever witnessed such a heavy snowfall in the middle of November."
The move also comes in the wake of a sharp criticism by the PDP that the elections in Jammu and Kashmir were thrust upon the people by NC. Referring to the snowfall, Abdullah said, “The unexpected weather conditions have compelled us to urge the EC to postpone the elections”.