Panthers Party objects to prolonged LS polls in JK

Singh said that the election commission schedule on six seats of Lok Sabha for which elections are to be held in five phases was only to prolong it when the state needs to make elaborate security arrangements for it.

The Panthers Chairman said that in the other states of country like Andhra Pradesh (AP),Assam,Orissa,Chhatisgarh,Jharkhand elections to the Lok Sabha are being held in two phases only whereas in Jammu and Kashmir they have been unnecessarily dragged on. Singh said,“the schedule for Jammu region comprising Jammu and Udhampur constituencies is against the principles announced by the commission as the harvesting period in this region falls between April 5 and April 25 whereas the entire electioneering period falls in that period. The festival of Baishakhi starts from 12th and ends on 14th April in entire Jammu region. Ambedkar Jayanti also falls on 14th April which is the last day campaign in Jammu Constituency. The constituencies of Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur shall be engaged in celebrations on these days in large scale. The commission has ignored the feelings of the people and also the harvesting season,” Singh said.

He also urged the Election Commission to reconsider the proposed schedule in the interest of parliamentary democracy and for upholding the credibility of the Commission itself so that free and fair polls are ensured and the ruling parties do not take advantage of the situation.