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| J&K misses bus, polls announced for 5 states | | | AGENCIES
NEW DELHI, Oct 14: The Election Commission on Tuesday announced assembly poll schedule for five states including BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in what is seen as "mini general elections" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, but remained undecided on Jammu and Kashmir.
Chhattisgarh will have two-phased polls on November 14 and 20, while Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will have one-day polls on November 25 and December four respectively. Congress ruled Delhi and Mizoram will have elections on November 29. Counting of votes will take place in all the states on December eight.
Announcing the schedule, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami said the three-member Commission was still assessing the situation in the troubled border of Jammu and Kashmir and no decision has been taken "at the moment".
No decision came forth on J&K apparently due to differences among the three Commissioners. While Navin Chawla and S.Y. Quraishi are said to be in favour of early elections in J&K where the term of the Governor's rule expires on January 10, Gopalaswami reportedly has some reservations on the issue.
There are reports that the CEC even contemplated recording dissent but there was no official word on the matter. Under the rules of procedure in the three-member Commission, the majority view would prevail in case of a split.
"We will get back to you as soon as we take a decision in J&K. Forces are one part of the issues. There are so many other issues. I do not want to say anything more", Gopalaswami said.
Asked whether it meant that elections will not be held before March because of winter, the CEC said "that you leave it to us”. |
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