Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Sep 3: Amid controversy over voting rights to non-locals in Jammu & Kashmir, the Union Territory’s chief electoral officer has invited all major political parties for a meeting with him on Monday over special summary revision of electoral rolls.
Ahead of unveiling of draft electoral rolls, J&K’s CEO Hirdesh Kumar has sent invitation letters to political parties for a meeting with him on September 5 at Nirvanchan Bhavan, Jammu over the issues related to special summary revision of electoral rolls. “All major parties including NC, BJP, Congress, Peoples Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have been invited by the CEO’s office for the meeting scheduled on Monday at 4:00 PM,” an official in the CEO’s office said.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Vikar Rasool said that they will participate in the meeting. BJP’s general secretary (organization) Ashok Koul confirmed that they have been invited for the meeting.
This comes amid an ongoing controversy over the chief electoral officer’s remarks that J&K will get additional 20-25 lakh voters including outsiders after special summary revision of voters.
While political parties have been communicated that the meeting has been convened over special summary revision of voters, sources said CEO may also clear apprehensions and misgivings arising out of his press conference.
After the CEO’s press conference, J&K administration had dismissed reports of a likely addition of 2.5 million voters after the summary revision of electoral rolls and termed the controversy a “misrepresentation of facts by vested interests”.
The CEO’s statement faced a political backlash with Farooq Abdullah chairing an all-party meeting over the issue. The political parties, which were part of APM, termed the voting rights to non-locals as “unacceptable” and said if need arises, they will approach the court against the move.
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone has also announced that he will go on hunger strike if an attempt is made to change the electoral demography of J&K.
The Election Commission of India would unveil draft electoral rolls on September 15 and claims/ objections can be filed upto October 25.
The final electoral roll would be published on November 25.
