NEW DELHI: The Government has drawn up a tentative poll schedule, in Which the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will take place by early November, and General Elections for the Lok Sabhia four months are, in March, Details of the security arrangements for the entire exercise are currently being worked out by the Union Home Ministry.
Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan is expected to follow the poll Schedule with minor variations, if there is untoward development.
To quote Home Ministry officials, Seshan has “played ball” with Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao as far as J&K has been concerned, and is expected to follow suit for the Lok Sabha elections, despite his recent antiestablishment postures.
The Government wants J&K Assembly elections to take place in late October early November. The reason for this date being chosen is that by the time a government is formed, the “darbar move” would have taken place, from the beginning of November to end of April the State capital shifts to Jammu for the winter.
For a newly elected government, Jammu would prove a less hostile place in terms of security, for the first six months, therefore, the government has time to find its feet in an environment freer of militancy than Srinagar.
As it is, the period from May to October during the past six years, have been the worst in the Valley from a security point of view. Most major incidents have taken place during this period, with October being the month when militant activity tapers off.
For obvious reasons, the government would like the elections to take place in October at the earliest.
Officials say that a four month time gap has tentatively been given between the J&K elections and the Lok Sabha polls in the rest of the country. One important reason is the deployment of security forces.
A massive deployment of paramilitary and armed forces is envisaged for the J&K elections. The forces would begin “sanitizing” operations a month before the polling dates, and would continue, to sanitize” the State for a month after the electoral process is over.
After that, a three month gap is needed to give rest and then shift the forces to other parts of India that means by early to mid-March, the security deployment will be in place for the Parliamentary poll.
Furthermore, officials say that the political leadership feels that March is the best time to hold General Elections.
The Prime Minister has already publicly announced that Kashmir elections would precede General Elections. He reportedly feels that doing, so would enable him to use the “stability” plank in his Congress Party’s election campaign.
It is expected that the ruling party will showcase its successful holding of elections in Punjab. Assam and J&K all States which are or have been afflicted with insurgency while campaigning, Economic liberalization may be a plank, but the Opposition is expected to counter that with charges ‘of rampant corruption in government.
Sources say that the intervening four months between J&K polls and general elections would enable the ruling party to shift focus to its campaign of “stability.”
Article extracted from this publication >> July 14, 1995
