NEW DELHI, February 2: Unmoved by the National Conference's threat to boycott the elections unless the counting date is changed, the Election Commission today said there would be no change in the schedule.Three constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, namely Anantnag, Baramulla and Udhampur go to the polls on March 7, well after the counting of votes for the rest of the country begins on March 2.
The National Conference has been protesting against the change in the counting date saying publication of the results for the rest of the country would influence voters in Kashmir.
A United Front delegation met Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill on Sunday to demand the advancement of the polls in the three constituencies. National Conference leader Saifuddin Soz has in statements to the media said the Commission's refusal to change the polling date in Jammu and Kashmir was a ``gross indiscrimination against the people of the state.''
Then came the threat by the NC to boycott the polls unless the dates arechanged.
But the EC remains unmoved by their pleas. Deputy Election Commissioner Subas Pani today declared ``there is no decision of the Commission at present in this regard. The election schedule for J and K remains unchanged.''
Admitting that the Commission had received representations from different parties on the J and K poll dates, Pani said these would be ``considered by the next meeting of the full Commission, but at this moment there is no new decision of the Commission'' on the issue.
The Deputy Election Commissioner also said the Supreme Court has stayed the interim order of the Allahabad High Court directing that university teachers not be put on election duty.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
