BJP warns against delaying elections in J-K

JAMMU: Ahead of Election Commission's meeting with political parties on the Jammu and Kashmir polls, the BJP today favoured holding the Assembly elections on time, saying any delay would be construed as succumbing to separatists. "The elections should be held on time in Jammu and Kashmir. There should be no delay in the elections," party general secretary Arun Jaitley told reporters here.

He said the BJP would convey its stand on the issue at tomorrow's meeting of the Commission in New Delhi. "Holding the elections on time can be better for Kashmir. Any delay would be construed as succumbing to separatists," Jaitley said accusing the Congress of attempting to put off polls not only in J-K but also in the entire country. He said the state was fast returning towards normalcy after the recent agitation.

While Jammu has already peaceful, "Kashmir is also coming back to track", Jaitley, who is incharge of elections for Jammu and Kashmir, said during a one-day convention of the BJP leadership here.

"The need is to go for increased political activity in Kashmir, which will widen the squeezed political space."
To a question about holding fresh delimitation of Assembly constituencies in J-K, he said "we want delimitation to end discrimination (with Jammu). However, we do not want delay of polls by going for delimitation.

"It can be done by the Assembly later," he said. Jaitley also ruled out alliance with any regional political party in Jammu and Kashmir. "We do not have any idealogical compatibility with any party. It is easy to go for alliance in any other state, but not in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.