After procrastinated speculation and debate on the question of scheduling the Assembly elections, the Election Commission has finally set aside all doubts and uncertainties and announced holding election to two states, namely J&K and Jharkhand on 25 November. The election will be in five phases ending on December 20 and counting on 23rd December 2014.
Critical situation had risen owing to flash floods in the Valley happening on 7th of September that inundated the city of Srinagar and disrupted entire life and system almost for one full month. In view of the after effects of floods and displacement of large numbers of people from their habitats it had become uncertain whether Assembly elections would be held on time. The term of the ruling party comes to a close on 16th January 2015 when the present State Government completes its 6-year long inning. According to State Election Authority, only one political party had opposed holding of elections on the heels of floods from which trauma the people in general and electors in particular have not recovered. But this did not sell well with other political parties and various leading personalities who wanted the EC to maintain its calendar. Finally, the ECI took a decision and announced the dates of election.
In many respects the impending election will be far better and tidier one in comparison to previous polling exercise. The EC assures the people that all foolproof arrangements have been made to see to it that polling takes place in peaceful and uninterrupted manner. We are confident that impending elections in the State will be smooth and without hassles.
But what is of great significance in regard to Kashmir elections is the extraordinary care taken by the EC to address all important and outstanding aspects. The total number of electorate is 72, 25,666 and in all 10,015 polling stations will be available for the people to cast their votes. J&K has 87 Assembly seats out of which 7 seats are reserved for SC candidates. Model Code of Conduct has come into force immediately after the polling schedule was announced by the Election Commission.
Kashmir Assembly elections have assumed much significance after the surge of militancy. Importance of elections was considered antidote to armed insurgency and by and large the voters in the valley turned up in large numbers to cast their vote in previous elections. It is a sad story that the separatists and secessionists usually give a call for boycott of polls. This issue has been extensively debated in the media and the question has been asked as to what gain the call of boycott brings to the people of the Valley in general. The boycott call has always gone against those who give the call because it eliminates the dissenting elements and mainstream political parties find it a windfall. As such one would like to make another appeal to the separatists and secessionists to coolly evaluate the repercussions of their call for boycott of polls.
As polling will be held in an atmosphere in which armed insurgents brandish their weapons and openly speak of disrupting the elections, the Government is reported to have made adequate security arrangements on this special occasion. So far the insurgents have never succeeded in disrupting elections and this time also they will meet with same failure. The real reason is that ordinary people in the State do not want violence to disrupt their lives. They are peace loving people and know and understand the value of their vote. They want to utilise it in the best possible way and return those to Assembly who really would care for the welfare of the people and prosperity and peace in the State. The voting will take place in a phased manner spreading over almost a month’s period. The big reason for extended polling is that security personnel have to be deployed in particular areas with the motive of ensuring fair and free elections. The Code of Conduct has already come into force and the Election Commission has taken serious note of transfer of some of the returning officers without its notice.
Apart from providing adequate security cover, Election Commission has also completed all other formalities particularly instructions in regard to photo electoral rolls, instructions for identity and selection of polling stations. It has in particular directed that the option of NOTA (meaning None of the Above) has to be there and voters are free to exercise their vote or not to exercise their vote. This is mandated by an order of the Supreme Court. National and international media is free to cover the polling and hopefully this time it will be much more transparent than in any previous polling.
In conclusion, we are hopeful that the forthcoming Assembly election will be held in free and fair atmosphere without violence and to the satisfaction of one and all. The people of this country have understood from previous parliamentary election what power the ballot paper wields. Hopefully they will use their vote sagaciously in the interests of the State and the people. The redeeming factor is that today’s voter has matured a lot in comparison to previous years.
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