Mainstream political parties representing all three regions of the State on Monday put up a ‘united’ face in front of the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the issue of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir.
Both the Kashmir based mainstream political parties — National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party —supported holding of early polls to end political instability and paving way for the popular Government in the State.
Leaders of the National parties and other regional players in the fray also supported simultaneous polls during their separate meetings with the ECI team.
The high level team of ECI led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sunil Arora earlier arrived in Srinagar on a two day visit to hold consultations with various political parties, State administration and other stakeholders.
Election Commissioners, Sushil Chandra and Ashok Lavasa, Deputy Election Commissioner, Sandeep Saxena, Director General ECI, Dilip Kumar, ADG Sheyphali Sharan, Director Nikhil Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer J&K, Shailendra Kumar attended series of meetings.
During the meeting with representatives of political parties Jammu & Kashmir National Conference urged the ECI team to announce assembly elections along with forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the State.
A three member delegation led by party general secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, State secretary Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan and provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani reiterated party’s resolve that there is no substitute to a democratically elected government in the state.
“J&K National Conference is of the view that Assembly elections in the State should he held simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections,” the delegation said.
Representatives of Peoples Democratic party too echoed similar view point during the meeting. “We are ready and our party will contest both elections with people’s support. We told ECI that the prevailing alienation and the unpredictable situation can only be handled by the elected Government in the State and that they should announce the dates as soon as possible and hold Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together,” PDP chief spokesperson Rafiq Mir said in a statement.
Indian National Congress (INC) delegation led by senior party leader Taj Mohi-ul-Din, BharatiyaJanta Party (BJP) delegation was led by its State Vice-President, Dr Ali Mohammad Mir during the meeting.
Senior Congress leader Taj Mohiudin said that his party has strongly pitched for holding parliamentary and Assembly polls simultaneously. “It’s for the security agencies to create a conducive atmosphere for polls. As for as Congress is concerned, we are ready for both parliamentary and Assembly polls and these polls should be held together,” Mohiudin told reporters after meeting ECI. BJP leader also demanded early announcement of poll schedule in the State.