KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Jan 28: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deferred its visit to Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting that the assembly polls in the state might be delayed.
As reported earlier by this newspaper, a team of ECI was planning to visit both Jammu and Kashmir divisions on January 27 and 28 for on spot assessment of the situation regarding the holding of assembly elections.
The team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora, was to take a final call on whether to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State or defer the Assembly elections by few months.
However, the sources confirmed the team has postponed its visit to the state due to unknown reasons.
Sources said that the Election Commission is weighing its option whether to hold Lok Sabha Elections in all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously or it should be conducted in Jammu and Ladakh regions in the first phase.
“In Kashmir region, the Election Commission is of the view that the situation is not conducive for holding polls as the public sentiment is totally against the mainstream activities right now. So they are weighing their options,” highly placed sources revealed to Kashmir Despatch.
Regarding the elections to State Legislative Assembly, sources said, the same can be deferred till September-October this year.
Meanwhile, putting all speculations to rest about the much hyped proposed visit of a team of Election Commission of India for on spot assessment of the poll related arrangements ahead of forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar Monday said that he has not received any intimation from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on any visit of its any team for reviewing the poll arrangements in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a local news gathering agency, KNS, the J&K CEO Shailendra Kumar said, “I have not received any intimation from the Election Commission of India regarding any visit of its any team for reviewing the poll arrangements in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir state”, adding that, “I will share any intimation from the election commission of India if I received any time in future.”
Meanwhile, official sources told KNS that there is no possibility of a visit of a team of election commission of India for on spot assessment of the situation on separate or simultaneous conduct of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jammu and Kashmir on February 3, adding that, “Prime Minister is expected to take a brief on the present situation in the state particularly law and order scenario in Kashmir valley.” Sources said a team from the election commission of India may visit the state for assessment of the situation for simultaneous or separate conduct of Lok Sabha and Assembly polls only after the Prime Minister’s visit.