Why they don’t want early polls

Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the only major mainstream party to openly oppose the elections , there is a growing concern in many others, including the National Conference (NC) and Congress, who fear that rushing into the polls will have serious negative implications.

“The primary concern is that an effort needs to be made to heal recent wounds. The Government both at the Centre and state must reach out to the people immediately,” NC president Omar Abdullah told The Indian Express. “We are concerned because we want the election process to be credible. At present, a healthy turnout is very difficult to imagine.”

Omar added that he had requested the EC to conduct an assessment of the situation on the ground before taking a decision. When asked if the NC would contest if the EC decides to conduct Assembly polls in November, Omar said that in such an eventuality his party would take a stand after calling a meeting of its working committee.

Incidentally, the NC had recently called a meeting of all its district presidents from across the Valley for a feedback session. They unanimously told the party leadership that the situation was not conducive and the elections at this juncture would have “disastrous” consequences for the party.

In a surprising twist, however, NC patron and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah came up with a contrary view while speaking at a function held to commemorate the death anniversary of NC founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Srinagar. Supporting the conduction of Assembly polls in November, he said that even if 4 to 5 per cent people vote, the new Government would function for six years. Party sources said that Farooq Abdullah’s speech came as a shock to them because it was “not scheduled”.

Nevertheless, the leaders admit that nobody in the NC’s working committee or the high-level core group dares to...