Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU/NEW DELHI, Sept 19: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a detailed report from the State Election Department on prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of devastating floods and rains, which killed 280 civilians and rendered several others homeless besides causing extensive damage to property and infrastructure.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the ECI would like to study preliminary assessment of the State Election Department report, which would be based on the inputs given by the District Electoral Officers (DEOs) before personally undertaking a visit to Jammu and Kashmir on taking a decision whether to go for Assembly elections or not.
Sources said the State Election Department was engaged in the task of obtaining assessment of the DEOs, who happened to be the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of all 22 districts of the State, telephonically as presently it was not possible for the officials of the Department to convene a meeting of the DEOs or hold video conferencing with them as DCs of majority of districts in Jammu and Kashmir provinces were busy in relief and rehabilitation of flood and rain victims.
They added that task of the Election Department to obtain view point of all 22 DEOs would be over in the next couple of days after which it would be submitted to the ECI in the form of a preliminary report as it would be based on the assessment of the DEOs, which they had taken from their field staff telephonically and not by doing the ground assessment on their own, which was not possible in most of the Kashmir Valley and some districts of Jammu due to hectic schedule of the DCs in relief and rehabilitation measures.
According to sources, the ECI would study the report of the State Election Department and then take a decision on visiting Jammu and Kashmir for on spot assessment of the situation in both Jammu and Kashmir provinces before taking a decision on whether to hold Assembly elections in the State in November-December or defer them in view of unprecedented situation arising out of devastating floods, which have virtually ruined the summer capital city with Government being unable to function from the Civil Secretariat for the past about a fortnight.
The Election Commission was worried that if it was unable to hold the Assembly elections in the State in November to middle of December, it would have to defer the elections to April-May as several parts of the State remain snow bound from December to March end with no possibility of polling. If the ECI had to start the elections from first or second week of November, it had to announce the election schedule latest by first week of October.
The announcement of election schedule will lead to imposition of Model Code of Conduct in the State, which could badly impact relief and rehabilitation measures as neither the Centre nor the State Governments can make major announcements of relief for the flood hit victims.
“The Election Commission of India in consultations with the State Election Department would take a final decision on the Assembly elections after ground assessment of the situation when conditions were conducive for their visit in Srinagar,” sources said, adding while winter capital city of Jammu is prepared to host the ECI team, it wouldn’t be possible for them to visit Srinagar, at least for the next few days especially when the Civil Secretariat was yet to start functioning.
Though 11th Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir has its term till January 19, the problem with Election Commission is that it had to conclude elections latest by the middle of December as most parts of State would then become snow bound while plains would too witness harsh winters. Once the elections are not completed by the middle of December, they would have to be deferred to April and May as till the March end or even start of April, many areas remained snow bound, making it impossible to hold the elections.
However, after January 19, the 11th Assembly will cease to exist compelling the Centre to impose Governor rule in the State.
Sources said the Election Commission of India will take all possibilities into account including the time State administration needed to bring the life back on rails and hold elections after worst ever floods, weather conditions etc before announcing its decision on whether to go for elections in November-December or defer them for some time.
Sources said Deputy Commissioners, who functions as DEOs at the time of elections, have given their opinion to the Election Department. The DEOs of districts, which have suffered little damage in the floods have stated that they were ready for holding the elections while those with massive destruction in floods have voiced apprehensions that relief and rehabilitations measures would take a back seat once the elections are announced.
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