We're aware political vacuum in J&K must be filled soon: Chief Election Commissioner
New Delhi, March 29
Noting that the poll panel is aware of the prevailing political “vacuum” in J&K and that needs to be filled as early as possible, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar today said the fresh revision of electoral rolls in the Union Territory (UT) didn’t disturb schedule or conduct of polls.
Finding excuses for delay, alleges omar
- National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah says the Election Commission seems to be in no hurry to conduct polls in J&K.
- The Election Commission manages to find new excuses to delay the election process in the Union Territory, he alleges.
Responding to a question on the fresh special summary revision of electoral rolls in J&K at a press conference here, the CEC said the special summary revision took place in the UT taking October 1 as the qualifying date, whereas in the rest of the country, January 1 was the qualifying or cut-off date.
No impact
Fresh revision of electoral rolls in the Union Territory not to disturb schedule or conduct of elections. Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner
“We went for October 1 as the qualifying date there (J&K) as we wanted to complete the process as fast as possible. This process (fresh special summary revision) is to bring J&K at par as far as the voters’ list is concerned,” Kumar said.
“But nonetheless, it does not disturb the schedule part or the conduct part of the poll that depends on various other factors, for which we will come back to you. We are aware that there is a vacuum that needs to be filled,” he said.
A few days ago, the poll panel had ordered a fresh special summary revision of the electoral rolls in J&K. While April 1 has been set as the qualifying date for the summary revision, May 10 is the date for publication of the final electoral rolls.
Following a recent amendment to the election law based on the recommendation of the poll panel, there are four qualifying dates or cut-off dates – January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 – for enrolling as voters. Earlier, January 1 was the only cut-off date.
Recently, Kumar had said that Assembly polls in J&K would be held keeping in mind various factors, including weather and security concerns. He had noted that the delimitation process in the UT was completed and returning officers and additional electoral registration officers had also been appointed in the rearranged and new constituencies.
