Election Commission of India deciding to undertake summary revision of electoral rolls in J&K and exclude three poll-bound states from the exercise has put a question mark over the fate of Assembly polls in the state.
In a communiqué to Chief Electoral Officers of differentstates on 25 July, the central poll body directed them to undertake summaryrevision of the rolls.
However, three states – Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra –where polls are slated in October-November – have been left-out of theexercise.
“The Commission, taking all aspects into consideration, hasdirected to undertake special summary revision of photo electoral rolls ofintensive nature w.r.t 01.01. 2020 as qualifying date in all states/unionterritories (except Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra),” reads the ECI letter.
The Commission has ordered summary revision in J&K evenas it has already announced to take a call on schedule of the J&K pollsafter conclusion of Amarnath Yatra.
The summary revision would be completed on 1 January 2020 withfinal publication of electoral rolls. But, as per precedence, summary revisionis not undertaken in poll-bound states.
The ECI spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan told Greater Kashmirthat since no decision has been taken yet on J&K poll dates, summary revisionexercise was ordered like in other non-poll bound states.
The terms of Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra Assemblieswould respectively end on January 5, November 2 and November 11.
The J&K Assembly was dissolved on 21 November last yearafter Peoples Democratic Party and Peoples Conference separately staked claimsto form a government in the state.
The state is without an elected government since 20 Junelast year when BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government.
After failing to hold elections within six months fromdissolution of J&K Assembly, the ECI had said it would announce schedulefor J&K Assembly polls after culmination of the Yatra in August.