Comm to take feedback, issue guidelines
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 8: The Election Commission of India headed by Sunil Arora will be holding high-level review of arrangements for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the country including Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on January 11. The Commission will take feedback on simultaneous holding of both the elections in the State during the day-long meeting.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are the only three States, where simultaneous Assembly elections were due along with Parliamentary polls in April-May and the Commission, apart from reviewing the status and preparedness of Lok Sabha elections, will also discuss the issue of Assembly elections in all three States with concerned Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs).
This will be the first high-level review of election preparedness by the full Election Commission with the concerned CEOs, sources said, adding that the Commission will take feedback from its representatives on preparations for the elections and also suggest certain guidelines to be followed for conduct of free, fair and smooth elections.
Asserting that the Election Commission of India was yet to take call on holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which was not the case with Andhra Pradesh and Orissa where the polls have to be held with Parliamentary elections, sources said the Commission in the case of J&K had to obtain reports from its representative i.e. the CEO, the State Government and finally the Union Home Ministry before deciding on whether it will hold the Assembly elections simultaneously with Lok Sabha or defer them.
When approached for comments, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar told the Excelsior that the Election Commission is scheduled to discuss preparedness for the elections including progress on summary revision of electoral rolls and other steps that are required to be taken before announcement of the general elections at a day-long workshop on January 11.
Jammu and Kashmir’s final electoral rolls are likely to be published on January 22, Kumar said, adding that progress on this front was smooth.
According to sources, the Election Commission of India would take its time in taking a final decision on holding of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections as it wants to be sure on all fronts especially the security situation in the wake of violence during Srinagar Lok Sabha seat by-poll in April 2017 after which by-election to Anantnag Parliamentary constituency in South Kashmir was deferred and couldn’t be held till date.
“Security situation in the State especially the Kashmir valley is going to be key factor before the Election Commission in decision on simultaneous polls,” sources said, adding that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs will also give its view point on how many additional para-military companies it can spare for J&K as Lok Sabha election will be held across the country the same time.
They noted that various other factors will also be taken into consideration by the Election Commission of India before taking final call on simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha and Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If the Election Commission is unable to hold both the elections together, it could defer the Assembly polls to October-May,” sources said, adding that holding Parliamentary polls across the country and Assembly elections to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, was priority for the Commission.
Sources said the Parliamentary elections for six Lok Sabha seats were likely to be held in April-May.
“Polls to four Lok Sabha constituencies including Jammu-Poonch, Udhampur-Doda, Baramulla-Kupwara and Srinagar-Budgam were likely to be completed in April while in South Kashmir seat of Anantnag-Pulwama and mountainous Ladakh constituency, the elections might be held in the month of May,” sources said.
“In the absence of required numbers of additional para-military companies, the Government would have to stagger the elections to many phases,” sources said pointing out that Lok Sabha elections in 2014 were held in five phases from April 10 to May 7 while Assembly polls were also held in an equal number of phases from November 25 to December 20.
Though the Assembly elections are to be held within six months of dissolution of the House, sources said in view of security concerns, they can be extended too and in that scenario, the President’s rule can be extended beyond six months. The Assembly was dissolved on November 21 and, if the elections are not deferred, they have to be completed well before May 21, 2019.
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