New Delhi, Jan 16:
Jammu & Kashmir's regional political parties on Monday
vociferously raised the issue of delay in holding Assembly
elections in the Union Territory during the all-party meeting
convened by the Election Commission of India to discuss
the issue of remote voting rights to migrant workers.
PDP chief spokesman Suhail Bukhari said that he raised
the issue of delay in holding assembly elections in Jammu
& Kashmir during the meeting.
“I told them that it is ironic that the poll-body has called a
meeting to discuss ways for increasing voter participation
in polls, but people in Jammu & Kashmir are eagerly
waiting for the past five years to exercise their voting
rights,” he said.
He said the Chief Election Commissioner told the meeting
that all technical processes have been completed in
Jammu & Kashmir.
“The CEC told us that exercises of delimitation and
revision of voters have been completed,” he said, adding
that CEC further said they are also concerned over the
matter.
In a statement, the National Conference said that its
treasurer Shammi Oberoi while speaking on the issue that
when the government is concerned about facilitating
domestic migrants to exercise their voting rights, the 1.4
crore people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to remain
deprived from exercising their democratic rights.
Oberoi further added that J&K which hasn't seen elections
for the last so many years is suffering on many fronts. He
raised the concern that people of J&K are being kept away
from exercising their democratic rights and choosing their
own government which would have effectively addressed
their day to day issues.
In its response, the Chief Election Commissioner
acknowledged the points raised by the parties and said
that the ECI is also concerned about the Assembly
elections in J&K.
The CEC said that preparations for the polls are underway
and that much groundwork has been covered in terms of
delimitation of constituencies, electoral rolls revision and
booth identification.
J&K has been without an elected government since June
19, 2018 when the BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba
Mufti-led government. The last assembly election in
Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. The delimitation
process was completed in May 2022 while summary
revision exercise was completed on November 25.
