Election Commission likely to announce Assembly polls after Diwali

Simultaneously impose Model Code of Conduct

PS BALI

Jammu, Oct 22

In view of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, the election commission is likely to announce the much awaited polls in the flood ravaged Jammu and Kashmir by the end of this week.

According to highly placed sources, the Election Commission of India will formally announce assembly polls after festival of Diwali and simultaneously impose the model code of conduct in the state.

Sources further revealed that keeping in view the climatic conditions and geographical terrains of the state, the commission is mitigating to hold polls in the month of mid-November and December.

He said that the decision came after the Full Election Commission, headed by VS Sampath, Chief Election Commissioner, took first hand information about the possibilities of holding assembly polls of the flood hit state.

During this visit, the Election Commission of India also managed to complete its summary revision of voters' list to take the final electoral roll for the flood-hit state. He said, “Completing the summary revision on time was the first indication that EC is, at the moment, focusing on holding elections on schedule in the state,” he said.

He added that the process of finalizing electoral rolls was completed well on time and the applications are into processing mode, where additions and deletions will be made by the J&K CEO.

Earlier, an ECI team headed by Deputy Election Commissioner, Vinod Zutshi visited the state to assess the possibilities to hold Assembly elections in the state on time, or deferred in view of situation arisen due to floods.

During this visit, the team also met with the representatives of various political parties and sought their views on holding of elections and also reviewed the election preparedness made by the administration.  

However, receiving the hints from the election commission, several political parties have entered into the war of advertisement campaigns.