NEWS
ANALYSIS
SPECIALS
INTERVIEW
CAMPAIGN TRAIL
ISSUES
GALLERY
MANIFESTOS
OVERHEARD
INDIA SPEAKS!
DISCUSSION GROUP
CHAT
PREVIOUS RESULTS

SCHEDULE

Efforts on to ensure smooth J&K poll

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Election Commissioner G V G Krishnamurthy hinted that the government's 'persuasive methods' to ensure people's participation in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll might be welcomed by the Election Commission.

Addressing a meeting of the assistant returning officers of the Srinagar parliamentary constituency today, he said, "We are the friends of democracy. Therefore, we should encourage the voters to come out in large numbers to cast their votes."

He arrived in Srinagar on Monday on a three-day state visit to review the poll arrangements. He said he would "assess the problems on-the-spot so that these are solved without losing time".

The security forces had to encourage and persuade many voters to vote in the 1996 Lok Sabha poll and later during the assembly election.

The state authorities admit that the recent spurt in militancy might affect the voter turnout in the valley.

He called upon the officials to maintain a close coordination among various government agencies so that free and fair parliamentary elections are conducted in the valley.

He hoped the forthcoming poll would be conducted peacefully as the "whole world is now watching Kashmir after the Kargil conflict".

Sources said he would hold a detailed review of the situation with top functionaries including Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. He would also visit Kargil.

Meanwhile, the state government has requested the Election Commission to allow Dr Abdullah to use the state-owned helicopter to visit Nubra Valley where people have been forced to migrate in view of the heavy Pakistani shelling.

Highly placed sources said that Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley has sent a letter requesting the EC to grant permission so that Dr Farooq could visit the area at the earliest.

The EC's response, sources said, was still awaited.

Tell us what you think of this interview