October 20th, 2008 
Aman 
Announcement Suspense ended on Sunday when Election Commission of India announced the dates of the assembly elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The elections will we held in seven phases for the 87 assembly seats in the state. The first phase of the polls will be held on November 17 and it will be followed by next six phases on November 23, November 30, December 7, December 17 and December 24. The votes will be counted on December 28 and the results will be announced on the same day. Earlier EC had announced the dated of the five state assembly elections except elections in J&K.
Political Situation Amarnath land row had lead to the premature downfall of he congress led government in the state. After it,political situation in the state had become very tense and more than 50 people have lost their lives in both parts of the state. Because of the tense situation in the Kashmir region, most of the political parties were not enthusiastic about the elections but they had not said openly against or in favor of the elections. Earlier it was being said that elections in the present situation will lead to a poor turnout in the Kashmir region. But state political parties also feared that delay in election will give an upper hand to separatists. In such circumstance EC had to take some ‘ bold decision’ otherwise it will have to wait for next six month to hold the election only after the winter season.
Necessity Earlier, PDP was against the early elections in the state but NC had favored the elections. Congress had left the decision to the EC while BJP wanted immediate announcement of elections in the state. In the initial two phases, elections will be held in Leh and Kargil regions as these areas are snow bound. Earlier elections used to be held in four or five phases in the state but EC has decided to hold them in seven phases because of the political instability in the state. In recent months, separatist Hurriyat leaders have exploited the public anger against New Delhi and had projected it as freedom struggle. In such circumstances, further delay in the elections could have given more time to the separatist for ‘free play’. EC has taken an important and necessary decision and it will push the separatists on back foot.
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