Indian EC announces 7-phased polls in Kashmir
Resolving differences within, the Election Commission on Sunday announced a seven-phased election in Jammu and Kashmir beginning November 17 till December 24, saying it has taken a "risk" on the issue of participation of political parties in the exercise.Announcing the poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said that the snow-bound Leh and Kargil regions would go polls in the initial two phases.
The polling for the 87-member assembly will be held on November 17, 23, 30, December 7, 13, 17 and 24. Counting of votes will take place on December 28.
Against the backdrop of parties and outfits in the Kashmir Valley expressing themselves against polls at this juncture, the CEC said the Commission has taken a "risk".
This was in apparent reference to political parties in Kashmir like the PDP which said no to polls and another mainstream party, National Conference (NC) which gave its nod after having voiced initial reservation.
On the issue of lack of consensus among the political parties, he said "first you need to ask if political parties are ready. We are not conducting election in a vacuum. To start with there were one no, one yes and one yes-no. After that one no became one yes. So we have two yes and we have taken a risk".
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