CEC To Chair Meeting On J&K Assembly Polls Today

New Delhi: Chief election commissioner Sunil Arora will conduct a meeting on Tuesday to discuss modalities for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, a New Delhi-based news channel reported on Monday.

Arora had Sunday announced that no Assembly elections will be held in the state simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections 2019, owing to “recent incidents of violence.”

“The Commission has been constantly accessing the prevailing condition in the state. Based on input, the constraint of availability of central forces and other logistics, the requirement of forces for security of candidates in wake of recent violence and keeping other challenges in mind EC has decided at this stage to announce the only schedule of Parliament election in J&K,” Arora said in a press conference at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan.

The poll body’s decision triggered a political slugfest with opposition leaders alleging that elections in the state were deferred due to BJP’s “mishandling” of the situation.

Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted: “First time since 1996 Assembly elections in J&K are not being held on time. Remember this the next time you are praising PM Modi for his strong leadership.”

“In 2014 we had Lok Sabha elections on time & assembly elections on schedule even after the most devastating floods. Shows how badly the BJP & earlier the BJP-PDP mishandled J&K,” he said in another tweet.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati also hit out at the Modi government over the decision, saying, “Denying J&K assembly’s simultaneous poll with the Lok Sabha is poor reflection & indicative of Modi Govt’s failure of Kashmir policy. Forces are surely capable of holding poll for both on the same day much to relief of people. Centre’s logic is poor & BJP’s excuse is childish.” (Agencies)