EC takes stock of report on J&K polls

As Jammu and Kashmir grapples with the aftermath of devastating floods, State officials have submitted a preliminary assessment of the situation to the Election Commission (EC) on holding the Assembly polls.

The elections in the state were scheduled to be held in November, as the term of the 87-member Assembly ends on January 19 next.

If a new Assembly is not in place before January 19, the state would have to be brought under the President’s rule till elections are held.

Sources told Deccan Herald that state election commission  authorities have briefed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) V S Sampath about the flood aftermath situation and possibility of holding polls later this year.

“The state authorities have submitted preliminary assessment of the situation to the EC which will take the final assessment anytime after Eid. The assessment report was based on district wise mentioning the districts — which were virtually free of floods and rains, the districts which were worst affected and the districts which were partially affected by the natural calamity,” they said.

The full EC including the CEC and two ECs reviewed the situation prevailing in the state especially in the flood hit districts, where the civil administration was engaged in relief and rehabilitation operations, sources added.