No simultaneous polls in J-K irks state’s leaders

In the sensitive Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, polling will take place in three phases due to security reasons.

The Election Commission decided to not hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir along with the Lok Sabha polls and cited constraints in the availability of security forces and recent violence among other factors behind the decision, which left mainstream parties in the Valley disappointed.

State election commission officials organise a public awareness drive about VVPAT machine. (HT File Photo/Representative image)

Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora said elections for six Lok Sabha seats will be held in five phases starting from April 11.

The decision to not hold the two polls simultaneously was taken based on inputs given by all the stakeholders, including the home ministry, parties, central and state agencies and district administrations, he added.

“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 told the media.

In the sensitive Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, polling will take place in three phases due to security reasons. “We will have to carry out three phases of election for just one constituency of Anantnag... so you can imagine how complicated it is,” Arora said.

Jammu and Kashmir has been on the boil in recent weeks as tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following a suicide bombing in Pulwama in February that left 40 soldiers dead.

CEC Arora said they discussed at length with local parties, state administration and security agencies. “Political parties and the leaders asked several questions about security. In J&K, security has to be provided not only for the candidate but also his or her family and even the party offices,” he said.

The EC’s decision irked former CMs Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. Abdullah also questioned home minister Rajnath Singh’s assurance of making available enough forces for simultaneous polls in the state.

“First time since 1996, assembly elections in J&K are not being held on time. Remember this the next time you are praising PM Modi for his strong leadership. In 2014, we had Lok Sabha elections on time & assembly elections on schedule even after the most devastating floods....” he tweeted.

Mufti accused the government of having ‘sinister’ designs. “Decision to hold only parliamentary elections in J&K confirms sinister designs of GoI [government of India]. Not letting people elect a government is antithetical to the very idea of democracy...”

State Congress chief GA Mir said the Centre itself certified that situation is out of control.

The state has been under President’s Rule since December last year, after six months of Governor’s Rule. The last state elections were held in 2014, after which the BJP and PDP allied to form the government. But in June last year, the BJP pulled out of the alliance.