Mixed Response to Elections in Jammu And Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced a five phase polling for Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and by polls for Delhi.

Addressing a press conference at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath notified that polling will take place on November 25, December 2, 9, 14 and 20 respectively. Further, the counting will be done on December 23.

By-elections to three Delhi assembly constituencies—Mehrauli, Tuglakabad and Krishna Nagar , which fell vacant after BJP legislators got elected to Lok Sabha, would also be held on November 25.

The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately, he said.

Meanwhile, the announcement regarding the elections in Jammu and Kashmir has evoked mixed responses from different quarters of the state.

While the ruling National Conference, who were continuously raising objections to the elections stated that “time is not right for elections” , the Hurriyat has termed these elections as “rubbing salt on wounds of flood victims”.

“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, but keeping our democratic values intact, we will participate in polls” Ali Mohammad Sagar senior NC Minister said.

He said the party clearly stated that the choice is between the people of the state and their sufferings on one side and the politics and elections on the other side.

Lambasting the People’s Democratic party, The NC leader said the PDP wants to grab power without having any concern of the sufferings of people. “By not opposing polls, PDP have proven that they are anti-people and only focus on power, they have forgotten the people’s sufferings and people will teach them a lesson by voting for NC” he added.

Meanwhile, the PDP spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar said that delaying polls was NC’s blackmailing tactics and they just want to keep power with them.

“Tell me what they have done for the flood victims so far, Nothing have reached to the victims yet, Under this cold atmosphere, people are living in tents, Under such conditions, we need new government who will take care of these victims and provide them adequate relief” PDP chief Spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar told The Citizen.

He added that NC during these last two months of Government has made many backdoor appointments to adjust their workers. They are just building their party’s place and nothing is being planned for flood victims, he said.

State Congress chief Prof Saifuddin Soz said that his party accepts the ECI verdict. “ECI is an independent institution. We accept the dates it has fixed for JK Assembly polls,” Soz said.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference is aghast with the announcement of Polls and has called for poll boycott.

“Announcing polls at the time, when people are living under open sky and winters are approaching fast once again proves that Indian Government is not concerned about Kashmiri people, they just want to strengthen their illegal occupation” Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said.

He urged people to restrain from voting and said that “elections can’t be substitute to right of self-determination”.