Click to play videoSrinagar: Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir are most likely to be held by the end of November. The Election Commission wound up its two-day visit to the state and is expected to announce the dates later this week.
Over two days in Kashmir, chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami's five-member team met governor N N Vohra, top politicians and police officials.
The team has given the polls the nod and the CEC is likely to announce the dates after deliberations with the Union home ministry
“They were happy in the sense that there are certain benchmarks which you have to cross this. I am sure the election department is meeting those benchmarks. Whatever requirements at this stage, we are comfortable with our preparations as for law and order, the chief secretary and DGP have give their assessment,” says B R Sharma, chief electoral officer, Jammu and Kashmir (shorten)
Nearly all political parties in the state have shown interest in the elections. Some have even begun holding public rallies.
“The decision to hold polls vests with the election commission. We leave it with them, should they decide to hold polls, NC will not shy away,” says president National Conference, Omar Abdullah.
But the separatist Hurriyat Conference that has never contested polls, and the PDP are cautious.
“People's confidence should be restored first before going to polls. Elections were always held and will be held in future. People's participation is a must and for that participation people's aspirations should be taken care of and not the elections,” Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president
Meanwhile, preparations for the polls have begun. The state electoral office has dispatched electronic voting machines (EVMs) to various districts and 45,000 officials have been commissioned for the 9113 polling booths.
Election ID cards for the 65 lakh voters are also being readied. The government is also making additional security arrangement.
After much dabbling and hesitation, decks finally seem to have been cleared for the conduct of polls in the beleaguered state. As always, elections in J-K will be a keenly watched exercise in the country and outside it.
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