MHA deliberates on J&K poll schedule
TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/16/2019 11:27:19 AM
Front Page
JAMMU: To overcome the challenge of voter participation in Kashmir Valley, the Centre is reported to be favouring simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, as it transpired at a meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary in New Delhi today.
The meeting, attended by top security brass, was in the wake of a query by the Election Commission of India asking details of security preparedness. Sources said that the security establishment has committed the arrangements if elections were to be held together.
Even as the state political parties have yet to be formally consulted but it is understood that the state unit of BJP as also the Peoples Conference of Sajad Lone was asking separate datelines for the elections favouring a later date for the Assembly elections.
The Home Ministry, sources said, is set to recommend to the Election Commission the simultaneous schedule which could involve three phases for the Lok Sabha and eight phases for Assembly elections.