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| CIVIC POLLS | | Nothing Democratic Without Roll Revision | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
JAMMU, Feb 4: As the state government appears headed for extension of the term of urban civic bodies for pushing elections in mid summer this year, all stakeholders of the elections including councilors are in dilemma over electoral rolls to be used for forthcoming elections.
It is being perceived that the State Government would conduct elections according to the electoral rolls which had been used for last Assembly and Parliamentary elections and that too, without going for necessary modifications.
Amid growing confusion and bewilderment, the councilors of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC)-irrespective of their party affiliations-have demanded revision in electoral rolls so that the genuine electorates within Municipal limits can exercise their franchise in the forthcoming elections here.
However, the Election Department is looking for final word on election schedule from the State Cabinet as the process of revision of electoral rolls would be initiated after the notification of exact dates for the polls.
Former Mayor and councilor from ward number 1, Narinder Singh, Chairman Health and Sanitation Committee and Congress councilor, Satish Kumar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councilor from ward number 65, Omi Khajuria had already raised their voice against the “faulty” and “defective” electoral rolls and have demanded revision (addition, deletion and correction) in the voter lists.
“I have raised this issue several times in Standing Committee meetings and General House meetings but of no use. Even I had forwarded a letter to Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir in the month of October, 2009 seeking his attention for necessary modifications in electoral rolls but it failed to get positive response from the Election department,” blamed Narinder Singh.
The senior Congress councilor said that revision of electoral rolls is a “lengthy process” and the State Election Department should immediately initiate the process in this regard if it wants fair and genuine elections. “It would be impossible for the department to correct errors and bring modifications in the voter lists if the Government announces elections to local bodies from April,” he maintained.
Omi Khajuria had stated that after the last elections to the Corporation in 2005, a sizeable population has settled in these areas and the Corporation is providing basic civic amenities to these extended areas as well as the people living there and they should be given the right to exercise their franchise. He had described it a well planned conspiracy to keep away the genuine electorates from election process.
As per official data, there were about 3.31 lakh voters in 71 Municipal wards during 2005 elections. Out of total number of electorates, 1, 68, 209 electorates were male while the number of female voters was 1, 62,226. A total of 399 polling stations were formed for conduct of elections. The 71-member JMC house has 27 councillors of the Congress, 25 of the BJP, six of the National Conference, nine independents, two of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and one each from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Shiv Sena.
“Revision of electoral rolls is mandatory for elections and no election could be held without modification in the rolls,” B R Sharma, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Jammu and Kashmir, said, adding “the election schedule can be announced only after receiving a Cabinet nod for election timings.”
“We will take into account the revision of electoral rolls only after the State Government’s directions for holding local bodies’ elections,” he said.
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