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| Home Secretary briefs EC | | Uncertainty prevails over poll schedule | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 10: After taking into account all opinions and circumstances, the full Election Commission today had crucial meeting in New Delhi in which security briefing was taken from Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta who is believed to have assured of full force strength for assembly elections as and when they are decided. Uncertainty is, however, still prevailing over the announcement of election schedule.
It is learnt that the Union Home Secretary conveyed to the Election Commission that government was ready to hold Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir next month in three to four phases.
An assessment of the situation for holding polls in the sensitive state was made when Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta met the full Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami.
During the meeting, the availability of central forces was discussed in detail considering the militancy situation in the state.
The Home Secretary is understood to have conveyed that the state had enough forces sent there during the Amarnath pilgrimage and to deal with the violence following the controversial land transfer.
The Home Ministry delegation is understood to have told the Commission that the government was prepared to hold the elections on time.
The polling is likely to be staggered in three to four phases to facilitate smooth movement of security personnel for holding peaceful polling.
The Commission's meeting with top Home Ministry officials took place after the panel returned to New Delhi following a two-day visit to the state this week when it met various political parties to elicit their views on the timing of the elections.
The EC delegation had also met senior civil and police officials of the state government to review the poll preparations.
During the discussions the EC had with political parties in Srinagar, Kashmir-based parties said they would abide by the decision of the Commission though they claimed that the current atmosphere was not conducive for the elections.
The BJP and the Left, however, wanted immediate elections while the Congress said it was the Commission's call.
The term of the Assembly, which was dissolved following the breakup of the Congress-PDP coalition in the wake of the Amarnath land transfer row, would have ended on November 20.
But since the state was placed under Governor's rule, the elections have to be held before January ten. |
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