Published On:Sunday, 19 October 2014
Administration ready to hold polls: Sampath
Poll process won’t affect relief, rehab measures: CEC
SRINAGAR: Hinting that Assembly elections would be held in the scheduled time in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission of India Saturday said it will not affect in anyway the relief and rehabilitation process to the flood-hit victims in the State if the elections are held at this stage.
“We met all the stake holders, top brass of the administration including Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary and interacted with the District Election Officers to make the assessment of election preparedness. We got the feedback that administration is prepared to hold elections on the scheduled time,” Chief Election Commissioner of India V S Sampath told reporters here.
“We met all the stake holders, top brass of the administration including Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary and interacted with the District Election Officers to make the assessment of election preparedness. We got the feedback that administration is prepared to hold elections on the scheduled time,” Chief Election Commissioner of India V S Sampath told reporters here.
Sampath said if the elections are held in the scheduled time, the ECI will not interfere in the relief and rehabilitation process to the flood-hit victims.
However, he said the ECI will make few more consultations in New Delhi before taking final decision in this regard by the end of this month.
The Chief Election Commissioner said the ECI also met the representatives of all major political parties to ascertain their view point on the elections. “Some want that elections should be held on scheduled time while some opposed it. Those who opposed it said that government should this time focus more on relief and rehabilitation process. We will take everyone view into consideration before taking the final decision,” he said.
He was flanked by Election Commissioners B S Brahma and Nasim Zaidi, Secretary ECI Vidon Zutshi, and Chief Electoral Officer J&K Umang Narula,
Earlier, full Election Commission of India (ECI) arrived Srinagar on Saturday morning to take the final decision on holding Assembly elections.
In previous video conferencing, only the Deputy Commissioner Budgam had openly opposed holding elections at this time.
Earlier, the Election Commission interacted with political parties in Jammu and Kashmir as part of exercise to decide the timing of assembly polls in the state which was recently ravaged by floods.
Barring ruling National Conference (NC) majority of the mainstream parties are in favour of holding elections in the state in December.
The National Conference told the full commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, which arrived here Saturday morning, that time was not conducive for polls in view of large scale destruction caused by the floods last month, ruling coalition partner Congress and opposition parties including PDP have supported holding polls before the end of this year as per schedule.
"Time is not for conduct of elections as people are trying to rebuild their lives which were badly affected by the floods," National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar told reporters after the meeting the Election Commission.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Communist Party of India (M) were in favour of holding Assembly elections as per schedule.
"We have informed the Election Commission of India (ECI) delegation headed by Chief Election Commission (CEC) VS Sampath that we are ready for polls in the state," PDP chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar said.
He said a three member delegation of the party including Mohammad Dilawar Mir, Dr Haseeb Drabu besides himself met the ECI and presented their party’s view point.
We told the ECI that there is no justification for postponing the elections as the flood affected people could be served more by a representative government than any other rule, he said.
Akhtar said it was true that people have suffered due to devastating flood, which could have been averted, but now is the time to rebuild Kashmir again. An elected government only can serve the people better way, he said.
Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Ghulam Nabi Monga said his party impressed upon the Commission that delay in conducting polls would necessitate imposition of Governor's rule in the state.
"Governor's rule is not substitute to the democratic process. Only elected representatives can serve people better .... The human tragedy that befell the state due to floods needs people's representatives for providing them succour," Monga said.
CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami said that people of the state, particularly in the Kashmir valley have suffered heavily in the floods last month.
However, the rehabilitation of the affected people could only be done by the government they elect in the elections, he said.
However, the rehabilitation of the affected people could only be done by the government they elect in the elections, he said.
However, a delegation of NPP demanded Governor Rule in the state to ensure free and fair polls in the State.
They also told the CEC that there was no governance in the state and the flood-affected people have not been provided relief or compensation for their crop or the damages to their houses, orchids or land.
The Panthers Party delegation also submitted an interim report of the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court regarding relief and rehabilitation process which they said deserves consideration of the CEC to ensure free and fair elections with participation of the people.
.The Army and state police and other paramilitary forces have already announced to ensure free and fair atmosphere for holding the polls in the state.
Director General of police K Rajendra Kumar has also started different districts in the valley to review the security arrangements.
