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| 3.86 lakh of J&K’s 64 lakh voters to cast first vote of life | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Sep 11
Even as lakhs of people of across Jammu and Kashmir have their eyes focused on the decisive last word of the Election Commission of India, the poll organizations in the state have put almost all preparations in place for the forthcoming assembly elections.
With all indications of assembly elections possibly to be held in the month of November, the major political parties and general public is keenly watching the next move of the Election Commission of India which has to take the final call. But for the recent agitation in Jammu and the still boiling trouble in Kashmir Valley, the poll season in the state was expected to be at its zenith by around this time.
All political parties and the state agencies have done with their inputs to the Election Commission which is now reportedly examining pros and cons of elections schedule. While the Union Home Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir Government have assured the Election Commission of all arrangements, more importantly security measures, the poll turnout still remains the major issue.
In the present scenario in Kashmir Valley, an impressive turnout, as it could have been in absence of present tension, is a remote possibility. Observers feel that the major issue to determine the poll timing is the legitimacy of elections if a poor turnout is finished.
Meanwhile, the Election Department of Jammu and Kashmir Government is reported to have made almost all major arrangements for the challenging assembly elections. Issuance of Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is the only major exercise which still remains incomplete even though the department is confident of issuing cards in time. The State Election Department had to issue 46 lakh EPICs and 28 lakhs have already been issued. This process was to be completed before the middle of August but the agitation and following shut down in Jammu, the EPIC preparation was delayed. The Election Department says that it will be able to issue 16 lakhs EPICs before the election announcement even when they are held in November.
About 64, 81000 electorates are expected to exercise their franchise during the ensuing Assembly Election as compared to 63 lakh electors in the assembly election of 2002. According to Election Department, in the forthcoming assembly elections 4.48 lakh fresh voters will be casting their votes while 3.68 lakh of them are the new voters –attaining age of 18 after last elections –who will be casting first vote of their life.
The Election Department is also reported to have purchased all necessary election material including the Electronic Voting Machines. |
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