Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 28: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will take a final call on holding Assembly elections in flood hit Jammu and Kashmir in the middle of October after getting a report from Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula on administration’s preparedness for the elections and publication of final electoral rolls, which were scheduled for October 1.
The immediate task before the Election Department in the State is publication of electoral rolls on due date of October 1 as some of the work was still pending in flood ravaged districts of Kashmir.
“We are on the job. Let’s wait and watch,’’ Narula told the Excelsior when asked whether the Election Department would be able to publish final electoral rolls on October 1. He said the things would be clear in the next couple of days.
“Some of the work in flood hit districts of Kashmir is pending. Let us see what happens,’’ the CEO said, adding that work for publication of electoral rolls was complete in all 12 districts of Jammu and Ladakh regions (10 in Jammu and two in Ladakh) but some work was still pending in Kashmir region, where massive destruction has been caused due to rains and floods in first week of September.
Official sources said the Election Commission of India would hold final review of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the middle of October based on the report of the CEO J&K before taking a decision as to whether it was possible for the Commission to hold Assembly elections in the State in November-December or defer them to April-May.
The full Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath would also visit Jammu and Kashmir for assessment of the situation before taking a decision on the elections, sources said, adding that the EC could meet the State Election Department officials, District Electoral Officers (DEOs), political parties and all other stake holders to elicit their opinion on the elections.
The CEC was in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs and CEO of J&K and was regularly taking inputs from them on prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The term of the 87-member State Assembly ends on January 19 next year. The problem with the Election Commission is that it had to complete entire electoral exercise in Jammu and Kashmir before December 15 when the several parts of the State becomes snow bound. In the initial exercise undertaken by the Election Commission, it had been decided to hold Assembly elections in the State in six to seven phases beginning around November 15 and lasting about a month with a gap of 5 to six days in every phase for rotation of para-military forces.
“If the State administration is unable to complete sanitation and de-watering operations and make other arrangements for the elections and if the Election Commission feels that announcement of election schedule could hamper relief and rehabilitation operations for flood victims, it can defer the elections,’’ sources said but added that all this would depend on the conditions prevalent in the Valley in the next 15 days when a final decision has to be taken by the Election Commission.
According to sources, if the Commission wants to start Assembly elections from November 15 and 20, it had to announce them at least one month in advance. If the Election Commission defers the elections on the ground that conditions were not conducive for holding the polls, the State would have to be brought under Governor’s Rule from January 20 till formation of the new Government as term of 11th Assembly expires on January 19. Due to harsh winter in Kashmir, Ladakh and some parts of Jammu region, it would be possible for the Election Commission to hold the elections only in April-May if they are not held in November-December.
One of the main concerns of the poll body is the condition of the polling stations and the road connectivity.
Another area of concern for the poll body is the revision of electoral rolls which was taking place before the floods hit the State, sources said.
The cut-off date for eligibility in Jammu and Kashmir is October 1, 2014. The electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir have a special provision for four cut-off dates for revision —January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 unlike in other States of the country when only January 1 is the cut-off date. If the Assembly elections are deferred, the Election Commission will have to go for another summary revision of electoral rolls along with the country, which are published on every January 1.
The full Commission — the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners — could visit the State soon and take inputs from Union Ministry of Home Affairs before taking a decision on holding Assembly elections in the State.
“We are watching the situation very closely. After things come to some shape, we will find out (and) depending upon the situation, a decision will be taken,” the EC officials said in New Delhi.
With thousands of people displaced and road and communication lines taking a hit, it will be an uphill task for the poll body to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Flood triggered by heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir has claimed scores of lives and left thousands homeless. It has also caused extensive damage to road, rail and telecommunication infrastructure in the State.
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