Admn cites yatra, tourist season in June
CEO office issues, withdraws order on polls
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 26: Assembly election are unlikely to be held in June this year in Jammu and Kashmir as proposed by the three Special Observers appointed by the Election Commission of India as the State administration has reportedly cited Eid, annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine and tourist season in June and ahead for deferring the polls to September-October.
The State administration is reported to have made its stand known to the Election Commission of India (ECI) at a high-level meeting convened by it in New Delhi and attended by top civil and police officials from Jammu and Kashmir.
Within hours of the meeting, the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), J&K withdrew an order issued by it earlier in the day calling upon all Deputy Commissioners, who had been designated as District Election Officers, to submit information for deployment of District Level Nodal Officers for forthcoming Assembly elections.
The order, issued by Additional CEO J&K in the afternoon, called upon all 22 Deputy Commissioners in Jammu and Kashmir to submit information (in a proper format) regarding District Level Nodal Officers for forthcoming Assembly elections in the State within two days.
However, within couple of hours i.e. after the State officials’ meeting with the Election Commission of India, the same Election officer–the Additional CEO J&K, withdrew the order pertaining to information sought from the Deputy Commissioners for appointment of Nodal Officers.
“The letter stands withdrawn,’’ the second Additional CEO order, read, dropping enough indications that the Assembly elections, which the Special Observers had proposed for June, were likely to be deferred.
Earlier, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer wanted names of Nodal Officers from all Deputy Commissioners within two days i.e. on very urgent basis but later cancelled the order. The first order read: “Matter may be treated as most urgent’’.
National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah immediately reacted to the Election Office order, which says the previous order seeking names for appointment of Nodal Officers for Assembly elections has been withdrawn.
Tagging the order, Omar tweeted: “Modi Ji cements his status as the only Prime Minister since 1996 unable to conduct elections on time in J&K. Remember this the next time you fete him as the strongest PM in living memory#ChowkidarFailHua’’.
Omar said most political parties in Jammu and Kashmir were ready to take on separatists and militants in Assembly elections by ignoring their threats of boycott of polls & violence. Unfortunately, Modi Ji and his handpicked team in J&K have decided to once again surrender to these forces #Shame, he wrote on twitter.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Shailendra Kumar and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh attended the meeting called by the Election Commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners, Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra.
Sources said, the J and K administration had sought the meeting with the EC through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Now we have asked them to give in writing what they have said so that full Commission can consider it on April 30,” said a senior functionary.
The sources said the “full commission” comprising the Chief Election Commissioner and two fellow commissioners will meet on April 30 to discuss the possible dates of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.
The officials said the EC, during the meeting, rejected the assertion of the officials from Jammu and Kashmir that the situation in the State needs to be assessed before conducting the Assembly polls.
They said the Commission was of the view that if the Lok Sabha polls could be held, there should be no issue in holding the elections to the State Assembly.
The State Chief Electoral Officer had met the Deputy Election Commissioner concerned on Thursday, ahead of Friday’s meet.
Though there was no official word, sources said the State Government was of the view that holy month of Ramzan, starting May, would conclude on June 5 or 6 with Eid celebrations, which will be immediately followed by conduct of annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas from July 1 but deployment for the yatra would start on June 15.
Moreover, they said, the months between May-August are known for hectic tourist season in Jammu and Kashmir, which will be disrupted if the Assembly elections are held in June. Further, they added, deployment for Shri Amarnath Ji yatra, would also be impacted in the event of Assembly elections being held in June.
“The Election Commission would announce its decision soon as it had to conduct Assembly elections in the State before May 21, 2019 i.e. within six months of dissolution of the Assembly,’’ sources said, but added that the Commission had powers to defer the polls beyond six-month limit under exceptional circumstances especially in view of security considerations. For the purpose, the Commission would also take opinion of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials.
Sources said the State administration was of the view that the period between September-November would be ideal for the Assembly elections when Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage, tourist season and Monsoon will be over. It may be mentioned here that Amarnath Ji yatra will conclude on August 15 this year while tourist season and Monsoon generally last till September 15.
Initially, there was a proposal for holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State in April-May but the Commission had cited security related issues for deferring the Assembly polls while holding general elections for six Lok Sabha seats in the State.
Three Special Observers including Noor Mohammad, retired IAS officer, Vinod Zutshi, retired Deputy Election Commissioner and AS Gill, retired IPS officer, had submitted their report to the Commission giving options to the poll body on conduct of Assembly elections in the State, about 10 days back.
The Observers had suggested three options including holding the Assembly election in June between Eid and Shri Amarnath Ji yatra, September-October i.e. after completion of pilgrimage and Monsoon or November-December like 2008 and 2014 when Nomads also return to the plains from upper reaches and can cast their votes, which would increase the voter turnout.
The advantage of holding Assembly elections in June was that nearly 450 para-military companies were already stationed in Jammu and Kashmir for conduct of Lok Sabha polls, which were being held in five phases. The same companies could have been utilized for holding Assembly elections followed by Shri Amarnath ji yatra, sources said, but added that the Assembly polls required at least seven phases in view of security considerations and a gap of five days in each phase, prolonging the exercise to 35 days or even more, which would have affected Amarnath Ji yatra and tourist season.
As per the Election Commission guidelines, the Assembly elections had to be held within six months of dissolution of the House, that is before May 21, 2019 as previous Assembly was dissolved on November 21, 2018 by Governor Satya Pal Malik following claims and counter claims by two fronts–one led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and another by Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference–to form the Government. However, the Election Commission can defer the Assembly elections beyond six months in view of security considerations.
Governor’s rule was imposed in the State on June 19, 2018 following withdrawal of support to Mehbooba Mufti-led Government by the BJP. After expiry of six months term of Governor’s rule, the State came under the President’s rule on December 19, 2018, which too will expire on June 19, 2019.
If new Government is not formed till June 19, the Central Government had to extend the term of President’s rule by another six months.
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