NEW DELHI: A decision on the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be taken after the Deve Gowda Government passes the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha on June 11.
But this will not prevent another extension of President’s rule in the State after the expiry of its present term on July 17. This extension may last briefly, though technically it has to be for a period of six months.
Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has indicated to persons close to him that he is keen on holding the assembly polls in the State as soon as possible and that he wants to decide on the timing only after securing the mandate of Parliament for his government.
The Government has time till June 16 in case it wants to hold the assembly polls before July 17, However, informed sources say, the eleven if the Government takes a decision on June 12 it will have to do a hurried job, along with the Election Commission to ensure the constitution of the State Assembly before the end of the present spell of President’s rule.
Instead, the sources say, the Government is being advised to carry out the task slowly but firmly to avoid the impression of merely completing a formality. The Prime Minister himself is keen on giving sometime to the National Conference and other peace-loving bodies, like the Forum for Permanent Resolution of Jammu and Kashmir, to consolidate their base in the Kashmir Valley and build up mass support. That will also necessitate the brief extension of President’s rule.
There have already been two meetings between the Prime Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 12, 1996
