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| PDP undecided on its participation in the poll process | | | Early Times Report
Jammu | Sept 16
The PDP leadership continues to be in favour of postponement of the Assembly election even after the Election Commission and the state agencies were trying to set the stage for the poll process to begin from middle of November.
According to the PDP General Secretary Nizam-ud-Din Bhat "we are not opposed to the poll for the sake of opposition. We believe that the current situation in the state, especially in the Kashmir valley is not conducive for a free and fair poll."
Asked whether the current situation was more alarming than the one that existed in 1989 and 1996, Bhat said "at that time only the militants called the shots. At present people have taken to the streets and there is general unrest and anger which may not allow a peaceful poll."
He said "mountains will not fall if the elections were postponed by four to six months". He said for six years elections were not held and these were held in 1996 when the situation had improved.
Another senior PDP leader, wishing to remain unidentified, said "we are in favour of greater peoples' participation in the poll process and the polling." He said under the existing situation the poll percentage was definitely going to be "very poor" which may give a bad name to the democratic traditions in the state. He said that if the elections were held towards the middle of November "we may have a hung Assembly warranting another spell of a coalition Government." He said the PDP is for a Government that represents aspirations of people and has the solid support of the masses.
Bhat said "we have not taken any final decision on the matter. We are watching the situation and once the poll schedule was announced, senior party leaders will meet and decide whether to take part in the election or not." |
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