Anil Anand
For holding assembly elections in states or Union Territories though a prerogative of the Election Commission of India, however, the Centre’s concurrence becomes imperative when it comes to making security arrangements particularly providing the services of the Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) more so if it happens to be a sensitive and strategic area such as Jammu and Kashmir.
So, when the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the Union Territory (UT) P K Pole omitted any reference to holding much delayed assembly elections, first since the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was demoted to the UT status with an assembly, whilereferring to the Lok Sabha, Panchayats and Municipalities polls due during the current financial year, naturally it raised the heckles of the political parties and the public. It raised serious doubts whether holding assembly polls is a priority of the Centre what to talk about returning to statehood as promised by Home Minister Amit Shah himself.
This proposition put forth by the CEO gives an insight into the mind of the BJP-led Central Government which has laid a greater focus on the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir with central ministers and authorities coming in droves to launch new schemes and assess the ongoing works. This created an impression that the assembly elections could be round the corner.
And it now raises a question on reasons behind keeping the assembly elections on the backburner. Since the CEO has referred to three due elections including that of Lok Sabha, it emphatically rules out holding of the polls either before that or alongside the general elections due in May 2024. Unless, the Centre wished to pull a faster one and spring a surprise to take the opposition parties by surprise. It intrigues why did Mr Pole use the term “financial year” as an election per se has nothing to do with it.
Since the current financial year will end by March 31, 2024 and the Lok Sabha polls would be due in May 2024, is it an indication that the Government has kept the option to hold assembly elections along with general elections open?
There is mystery factory about this “financial year” description given by the CEO.
From time to time the Centre and the UT authorities have been offering different reasoning to postpone assembly elections, on one pretext or the other. It began with delimitation of constituencies. Once done, the next pretext was Summary Revision of electoral rolls which has not only been completed but also followed by a Special Revision or updating the voter lists to include to enroll the first- time voters. Security, interestingly, has never been the concern to not hold the elections.
All accomplished, it belies any justification now to gloss over the issue of assembly elections as the UT is without an elected government for nearly four years now. If elections to Lok Sabha, Panchayats and Municipalities can be held why not assembly polls? This belies any reasoning.
Under the circumstances when by the Centre and state administration’s own assertion the security situation has considerably improved, it can no more be a factor to not hold assembly elections. A strong indicator of this improvement is steep rise in the number of tourists and pilgrims visiting the UT and the number according to the administration is likely to further go up during the current year. So, it is baffling what is holding the Centre back to clearly come out on holding assembly elections.
What is holding the Centre and the UT administration back to even make a mention about the assembly elections under the “improved scenario and an upbeat economic activity”?
The omission of any reference to hold assembly elections in the near future in Mr Pole’s observation made during an exclusive interview with Daily Excelsior at least defeats the logic of the ground situation regarding security on two counts. Firstly, if Lok Sabha and civic elections can be held there is no basis to argue that the assembly polls cannot be held on the grounds of security. Secondly, it defeats the Centre-UT administration’s own claim about greater normalcy prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir.
Although the CEO’s observation, which can be safely presumed as an expression of the mood at the Centre and obviously its reflection in the UT administration, has not come as a surprise as the sceptics were already believing that the assembly elections will not be held any time soon at least before the Lok Sabha polls. The only added dimension is that, going by his observation, that these possibly would not be held even alongside Lok Sabha elections.
The same security paraphernalia which is required to oversee Lok Sabha, Panchayat and Municipalities elections, could perform the duty as efficiently in manning the assembly elections. So, why keep out the assembly elections?
There seems to be more than what meets the eye in segregating the holding of assembly elections from the three polls that the CEO referred to. It seems to have a lot to do with the prevailing political situation on ground rather than the security concerns.
Ideally speaking, it should have been the assembly elections first followed by the rest. It would have been in the fitness of things that the other elections at least the civic polls are held under the supervision of an elected UT government rather than under the eye of the Centre.
Although this is often debated in political and social circles but the latest development gives credence to the argument that the ruling BJP has betrayed confidence and is shying away from assembly elections. The reason being the strong level of dissatisfaction among people about redressal of their grievances both in Jammu, and Kashmir mostly due to lack of communication, and difference of perception between the priorities of the administration and what the people wanted.
It is equally frustrating for the political parties, barring the BJP, who have been gearing up for the contest for fear of being taken unawares by the Centre by suddenly announcing the elections. The leaders of the regional parties such as National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party and sundry groups that have mushroomed due to one or the reason have been active on the field. So are the national parties like Congress.
It is not that ruling BJP is totally against holding assembly elections and not active on ground. A sizable section in the party’s UT unit do support the idea but they seem to have neither the power nor the say to convince the central authorities into conducting the polls.
Given the fact that the final authority on the issue of assembly election in a sensitive area lies with the Prime Minister and Home Minister, it is hoped that CEO’s word is not the final. However, it has started yet another phase of political uncertainty.
Such an uncertainty will help none. To the contrary, it has the potential to demoralize the political parties and their cadres and force them into a shell. Calling assembly elections is must to strengthen the democratic process locally and call bluff of the anti-national forces.
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