New Delhi: Brushing aside reservations of the ruling National Conference, the Election Commission on Saturday decided to go ahead with holding Assembly polls in flood-devastated Jammu and Kashmir and announced a five-phased schedule between November 23 and December 20.
Polling will take place on November 25, December 2, 9, 14 and 20, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said at a press conference here.
Counting of votes will take place on December 23, he said.
With the announcement of elections, the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. The current six-year term of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly ends on January 19.
National Conference had expressed reservations to holding of polls at present because of the devastation caused by floods last month.
Asked whether it was the right decision to hold polls in Jammu and Kashmir in view widespread destruction caused by floods, Sampath said the calamity will have no “special impact” on polls.
He said post-flood situation, along with other aspects like climate, festivals and law and order situation, have been taken into account while deciding the poll schedule.
“Except for one political party, most of the political parties (in Jammu and Kashmir) were in favour of holding elections on time. They said there is no reason, no justification for delaying the polls. The EC’s mandate is to hold elections on time,” he said.
“The Commission has made two-stage verification before announcing the poll schedule. In the first phase, the Commission had sent its senior officials who held elaborate discussion with the stake holders.
“This was followed by a visit by full Commission which held talks with political parties and all stake holders. Barring one political party, all others favoured holding of elections on time and also made it clear that there was no justification for delaying the polls,” he said.
The ruling National Conference (NC) said it had opposed immediate elections.
Reacting to the EC’s announcement for polling in the state, NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar said, “We opposed the elections at this point of time because we felt that this is not the opportune time as the people are battling the aftermath of the flood tragedy that has befallen the state”.
He said this was the time to focus on relief and rehabilitation rather than go for polls. (Agencies)
