Ready for state assembly polls, says J&K governor

Says the state machinery is fully prepared to hold polls even if they were to be held simultaneously with 2019 Lok Sabha elections

JAMMU:JAMMU and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday said the administration was ready for assembly elections in the state and a call in this direction should be taken by the election commission (EC) and New Delhi.

“Whenever, they (EC) tell us, we are ready for the polls (to assembly),” he told reporters here after the oath-taking ceremony of sarpanch of Jammu region.

He also said the state machinery was fully prepared to hold polls even if they were to be held simultaneously with Lok Sabha election.

The EC had in November last said fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held within the next six months, even as the body did not rule out the possibility of holding the state polls before the Lok Sabha polls due this year.

“The Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls must be held on the first occasion before May. It could be held before the parliamentary elections also,” chief election commissioner O P Rawat had said. He said as per the Supreme Court, the outer limit for holding fresh polls after the dissolution of the House was six months, that is May, 2019

The PDP-BJP government had ceased on June 19 last year and the present governor Satya Pal Malik had dissolved the legislative assembly in a late night move on November 21 after a political

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Whenever, the election commission tells us, the state assembly polls would be held. We are ready for them.

SATYA PAL MALIK, J&K governor

drama.

As per the Supreme Court, after the dissolution of legislative assembly, elections must be held within a period of six months from the date of dissolution.

Notably, the PDP-BJP government ceased on June 19 but the assembly was kept in suspended animation till November 21.

It may also be recalled that the central government on December 28 told the Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir governor had no option but to recommend President’s Rule in the state as no party or alliance staked claim to form the government.

On Tuesday, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the assembly polls should be held “as soon as possible”. The National Conference (NC) vice president also took a dig at some politicians

and bureaucrats for “creating hurdles” in holding of assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

NEED PEOPLES’ PARTICIPATION IN WELFARE SCHEMES

Earlier, addressing newly elected state sarpanches, the governer advised them to ensure holistic development in sync with the environment.

“Panchayati raj institutions can be truly represented and fulfill the developmental aspirations of people with direct participation of people in planning and implementing government welfare schemes under close monitoring,” Malik said.

He further lauded people and

government functionaries for making recently held civic and panchayat polls a well conducted and incident free affair.

Malik also assured the elected representatives that no official in the state machinery can harass them. “I will make sure that a protocol is put in place for elected sarpanches and panches,” he said. “We will also seek suggestions from all of you while mulling projects. You need to tell us about your requirements like hospitals, schools, colleges, roads, water and electricity,” the governor said.

On IAS officer Shah Faesal’s resignation, Malik said he himself was a government employee and did not wish to comment on the matter.