All political parties batted for joint polls in J&K: CEC

The Election Commission of India Tuesday said almost all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed full faith in the ECI and batted for holding state assembly polls simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections.

The team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, reached Jammu on the second leg of the two-day tour and held discussions with the representatives of various political parties, including the BJP, Congress, National Conference, PDP, CPI(M) and the National Panthers Party (NPP), officials said.

A similar exercise was conducted by the ECI in Srinagar on Monday as part of its efforts to assess the feasibility of holding the Lok Sabha and the assembly polls together.

"On the issue of need for elections, almost all political parties voiced the need to have both Parliamentary and Assembly elections conducted at the earliest in the state saying that recent turnout in the Panchayat and ULB elections, suggests that general population in the state wishes to have their democratically elected government in place,"Arora told a press conference here tonight.

The CEC said the party representatives and public at large have full faith in ECI that it would fulfil its constitutional mandate to conduct free and fair elections in the state.

All political parties emphasised due security arrangements be made to provide adequate security to voters and candidates so as to instil confidence in them for conducive environment for forthcoming elections, he said.

"Some political party members desired that adequate security should be continued for ex-ministers and candidates even after actual election process is over", he said.

"We are mindful of the challenging law and order situation in the state. Commission will look into due security arrangements while deciding on the timing and phasing of the elections", he added.

He said that commission keeps in mind local festivals, geographical conditions and related needs while deciding the schedule of election dates.

"The Commission is aware that Elections have been conducted in the past under trying circumstances in the state. J&K elections do attract global and national attention more than any other state", he said.

"We have taken into account all the point of view from political parties to state machinery. We have taken into account point of view of DCs and SSPs of districts, IGs. Chief Secretary and Additional DG has briefed us. Chief election officer (CEO) has given us presentation during two days visit", he said.

After taking into account all the view points, "we will take a decision in New Delhi and announce it in the press conference," he said.

In reply to a question whether political leadership of the state and state machinery are on one page in holding elections, he parried the reply.

Asked weather situation is right for holding elections in view of Pulwama terror attack and border shelling, he said "we have seen some of the best presentation by officers. They are very focussed and very precise. None of them seem to be intimidated. They all know what the situation is. They are neither overwhelmed by the situation nor intimated by it. That is the healthy sign"