EC to hold more consultations on timing of polls in J-K

The Election Commission on Saturday said it will hold further consultations in Delhi before announcing the dates for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We will be getting back to Delhi, we will have to make some more consultations before we will come to a final conclusion about scheduling of the election," Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath told reporters here after holding deliberations with various political parties and government officials in the state.

Sampath said that his team wanted to have a clear idea about status of relief measures in the state and the status of infrastructure essential for conduct of the elections.

"We have had discussions with all recognized political parties in the state. We started our discussions with a briefing by the Principal Secretary (Relief and Revenue) and also Principal Secretary to Fire Department," Sampath told reporters here.

"We have had meeting with the Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary and other senior officials of the state getting a feel of post flood situation in the state," he added.

Sampath, who was accompanied by Election Commissioners Harikrishna Brahma and Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi, further informed about the stand of various political parties with regard to conducting assembly polls in the flood-ravaged state.

"Quite a few were maintaining that the elections shall be held on schedule, there shall not be any delay. While some others were also mentioning that holding of elections will interfere with the relief and rehabilitation," said Sampath.

"Relief and rehabilitation is more important than conduct of the elections. Each political party stated their viewpoint which has been taken due note of by the Commission," he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier this week said the situation is not conducive for polls in the state and warned of a 'zero percentage turnout' in Srinagar, which is the worst hit by the recent floods.