Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 2: In order to review and finalize the preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, full Election Commission of India headed by Chief Election Commissioner, V S Sampath is arriving on two-day visit from September 10. It would be only after detailed deliberations with the State Election Department and official machinery that the Election Commission would work out the number of phases for the polls to 87 Assembly segments.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Election Commission of India has conveyed to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of J&K, Umang Narula that it would review the preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly elections during its two-day visit to Srinagar from September 10. “This would be final meeting of the Election Commission with all the concerned agencies of Jammu and Kashmir before issuing schedule for the Assembly elections”, they added.
The Chief Electoral Officer has sounded Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Divisional Commissioners and all the District Election Officers (DEOs) for briefing the full Election Commission on all the aspects relating to the conduct of elections.
On September 10, the Election Commission comprising CEC V S Sampath, Election Commissioners, H S Brahma and Dr Nasim Zaidi and Deputy Election Commissioners Vinod Zutshi, R Balakrishnan, Sudhir Tripathi and Dr Alok Shukla would discuss the security and other preparedness in two separate meetings at Srinagar.
The first meeting would be held with the Divisional Commissioners, IGPs, District Election Officers and District SPs and the second meeting of the Commission would be with Chief Secretary and Director General of Police.
On September 11, the Election Commission would meet representatives of different political parties to take stock of their grievances, if any, relating to the different aspects of the elections. “At present, there is no schedule of Election Commission visiting Jammu to meet the representatives of the political parties here but the possibility of change in itinerary cannot be ruled out”, sources said.
With the District Election Officers (Deputy Commissioners), who have a key role to play in ensuring free and fair polls, the ECI would review the aspects relating to polling stations and their vulnerability mapping for which directions were already issued in the past. Moreover, the DEOs would apprise the Election Commission about the critical areas requiring special attention of all the concerned agencies.
“Various aspects relating to the Electronic Voting Machines would also be discussed with the DEOs, who would be directed by the Commission to ensure prompt first level checks in the presence of political parties soon after the arrival of EVMs from different parts of Gujarat”, sources said.
The DEOs would also apprise the Election Commission about the mapping of 350 additional polling stations, the establishment of which was felt imperative following addition of new voters during the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls from July 17 to August 16. The DEOs have already identified sensitive, critical and hypersensitive polling stations among these new polling stations.
The Election Commission would also ascertain the arrangements put in place by the DEOs for continuous updation of electoral rolls beyond October 1, the date fixed for final publication of electoral rolls, till 10 days before the final date of receiving nominations, sources informed.
The phasing of Assembly polls would also come up for discussion and Commission would obtain proposals from the DEOs in this regard based on the topography and weather conditions of different Assembly constituencies. “The feedback in this regard would form the basis for finalization of phases for the polls”, sources added.
Similarly, the IGPs and SSPs would apprise the Commission about the security plan of their respective areas and further steps required to be taken to ensure incident free polls, which is the major challenge before the Election Commission.
The wrap up meeting would be held with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police during which majority of arrangements would be finalized by the Commission.
The meeting with the representatives of political parties to be held on September 11 assumes much importance keeping in view the controversy surrounding the bringing of Electronic Voting Machines from Gujarat, the home State of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi about which objections were raised by several political parties before being overruled by the Election Commission.
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