J&K Administration Not Keen on Holding Assembly Elections in June, EC May Move Date to Nov

By way of the reason for postponing the elections, the J&K administration has cited Ramzan, Amarnath Yatra, tourist season, and Bakarwal migration.

New Delhi: If the Election Commission sources are to be believed, the J&K Governor is against holding Assembly elections in June. (Catch Updates of Lok Sabha Elections Here)

ANI reports that the administration has asked the EC to hold elections in November instead. By way of reason for postponing the elections, the administration has cited Ramzan, Amarnath Yatra, tourist season, and Bakarwal migration.

Meanwhile, the election authorities in J&K have asked the district election officers to submit information about district level nodal officers for Assembly elections in the state within two days, indicating that polls to the state legislative assembly might be held soon after the Lok Sabha elections.

“I am directed to enclose herewith a format for submission of information regarding district level nodal officers for forthcoming assembly elections 2019 and request you to submit the same within two days positively,” additional chief election officer of Jammu and Kashmir wrote in his letter to district election officers.

While announcing the seven-phase Lok Sabha election schedule on March 10, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had said that elections for the J&K Assembly would not be conducted along with the Lok Sabha elections.

In June 2018, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had withdrawn support to the PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, in the 87-member state assembly. The state has been under President’s rule since.