Amid ‘uncertainty’, parties, admn gear up for Assembly poll
Adil Akhzer
Srinagar, August 6
Even as “uncertainty” continues over the J&K Assembly elections, political parties in the UT have begun preparations.
The Election Commission will also be visiting J&K this week to review the preparedness for the elections.
Leaders in the Valley said though they were not sure if the elections would be held before the deadline, they had already started preparations for the poll.
Sources said several meetings were scheduled between poll panel, political parties and the UT Administration on Thursday and Friday and Saturday.
“We had asked our zonal heads to submit the names of probable candidates. They have submitted the names and the party’s political affairs committee will finalise the candidates,” Tahir Sayeed, spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, told The Tribune on Tuesday.
He said: “Uncertainty continues whether the elections will be held before the SC deadline. However, we are keeping the party ready for the elections”.
Viqar Rasool, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, said the party had started full-fledged preparations for the elections. “We are carrying out several activities, including rallies. We hope that the elections will be held before September,” he said.
In December last year, the Supreme Court had directed the poll panel to hold the Assembly elections in J&K by September 30. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy here yesterday stated that the Assembly elections in the UT would be held in September.
The National Conference, which is elated at the victory on two seats from the Valley in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, is also finalising the list of its candidates for the Assembly poll, according to party insiders. The party had last month sought suggestions from the public for its manifesto for the upcoming elections.
The BJP, which has made progress over the years by spreading its wings in the Valley, is also planning to contest all seats in the Assembly elections here for the first time. “We are conducting door-to-door campaigning and outreach programmes ahead of polls. In June, the Prime Minister had stated that the elections will be held soon,” said party spokesperson Altaf Thakur.
Apart from political parties, top government sources said the administration had also started preparations for the elections. “We are adhering to all orders received from the Election Commission,” said sources.
They said while pre-special summary roll exercise had been completed, a special summary roll revision was underway, which would complete on August 9.
Several political parties recently criticised the Central Government for giving more powers to the LG. They say the move was aimed at “disempower” the elected government.
BJP may contest all seats
The BJP, which has made progress over the years by spreading its wings in the Valley, is also planning to contest all seats in the Assembly elections here for the first time.
Proposals invited to hire 2 copters
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the UT invited proposals for hiring two helicopters from September to November for the Assembly elections.
First-level check of EVMs
An official said first-level check of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would begin shortly.
