SRINAGAR, APRIL 30:
The Election Commission of India has decided to seek clarification from MHA on certain aspects regarding the assembly polls as well the opinion of an eminent legal expert in the context of ongoing President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir. A crucial meeting of election commission of India was held today. “It was decided to seek further clarification on certain aspects of the issue from Ministry of Home Affairs,” Spokesperson of the commission Sheyphali Sharan said. “It was also decided to seek the opinion of an eminent Legal Expert in the context of ongoing President’s Rule in Jammu & Kashmir,” she said. The state administration favours the elections in November and not during the summer. The state administration had cited Ramazan, tourist season, and Bakerwal migration as reasons for advancing the polls to November this year, sources said. On March 10, when the poll body had announced the schedule for the ongoing Lok Sabha election, it had said the polls to the state Assembly will not be held simultaneously. It had cited the law-and-order situation in the state for delaying the Assembly polls.
Since the Assembly has been dissolved, the election commission was bound to hold fresh polls there within a six-month period, which will end in May.
The government of India and the state administration, being managed by the Centre-appointed governor, were against holding the two elections together.
However, all political parties in the state spoke in favour of simultaneous polls during a meeting with the EC.
