The plan to hold simultaneous elections in J&K will depend on the response to local body polls due in October-December.
New Delhi: The Modi government is considering holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir along with Lok Sabha elections that are due early next year, top central government sources told ThePrint.
“A final decision hasn’t been taken yet. A lot will depend on how the panchayat and urban civic body elections are held and the response they receive from the general public. But, yes, we are looking at simultaneous polls,” said a senior functionary.
The insurgency-torn state was placed under Governor’s Rule in June this year after the BJP pulled out of its alliance government with the PDP, saying it had become untenable to continue in the face of mounting militant violence.
The state’s new governor Satya Pal Malik and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav – the architect of the BJP-PDP alliance – have since categorically ruled out forming a new government through defections of MLAs.
Asked if the central government would stick to the plan for simultaneous polls even if the panchayat elections see violence and voter boycott in the Kashmir Valley, the source replied: “It is a hypothetical question. Our aim is to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner. We are aware that anti-India forces will try and create an atmosphere of violence, even try to force candidates from withdrawing.
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“But, our understanding is that the democratic process is the only way forward. But, as I said, a lot will depend on how situation in the Kashmir region plays out in the next few months.”
With both the PDP and the opposition National Conference boycotting the civic body and panchayat elections due to be held from October to December, a final decision will also depend on the stand of these two mainstream political forces in the Kashmir region.
“We will start talking to them once the ongoing process is completed,” said the source.
Sources in the BJP said the party would like the anti-incumbency against it in the Jammu region to reduce before it can think of planning for the assembly polls.
“We are aware that our local leadership, especially our ministers, aren’t very popular among the voters in Jammu region,” a senior BJP leader said.
“Governor’s rule is an opportunity to get some work done and hope people will forget our shortcomings. The governor is working overtime to re-start governance and development in the state. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” the leader said.
But if the BJP feels that it might not do well in the assembly elections, it may even try and ensure that the plan to hold simultaneous polls doesn’t go through, the leader added.
Also read: BJP will not take initiative to form govt in Jammu & Kashmir, says Ram Madhav