The three special observers appointed by the Election Commission of India to help it decide on holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir Monday met top officials of the CRPF and state police here.
Sources in know-how of the meeting said since the CRPF isthe principal security agency in the state, the observers wanted a feedback onhow early the assembly polls can be held in the state.
The CRPF, the sources said, is of the view that electionsshould first be held in the “most difficult” parts of the state so that theforce gets adequate time to dominate the area.
But, the state administration is learnt to be of the viewthat areas which have previously witnessed high voter turnout should go topolls first to avoid a “drag down” effect on other constituencies.
The security forces, especially the Central Reserve PoliceForce, wants the state government to fast track repair of major roads andhighways in the state so that the movement of forces’ convoys takes place at afaster pace.
The sources said the EC will now take a comprehensive viewbefore taking the next call on the subject.
Since the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has been dissolved, theEC is bound to hold fresh polls there as well within a six-month period, whichwill end in May.
While there was a view that the assembly elections can beheld along with the LokSabha polls, the EC went by the view of the homeministry and state administration and decided against holding simultaneouspolls.
The government is of the view that the security situation iscomplex in the state given the heightened tension along the India-Pakistanborder.
The Centre and the state administration, being managed bythe Centre-appointed governor, are against holding the two elections together.
However, all political parties in the state favouredsimultaneous polls during a meeting with the Election Commission earlier thisweek.
The J&K assembly’s six-year term was to end on March 16,2021, but it got dissolved after a ruling coalition between the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) and the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) fell apart.
The other state assemblies and LokSabha have five-yearterms.
The three special observers appointed by the ElectionCommission are retired IAS officers VinodZutshi and Noor Muhammad and retiredIPS officer A S Gill.
The observers have been tasked with making a real-time assessment of the situation by meeting political parties, district and state authorities and other stakeholders to enable the poll watchdog take a call on the issue.