There is vacuum that needs to be filled: CEC Kumar on J&K polls

New Delhi, Mar 29 (PTI) Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday said the fresh revision of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir does not disturb schedule or conduct part of polls and the poll panel is aware that there is a “vacuum” in the Union territory which needs to be filled.

Kumar said in J-K, the special summary revision took place taking October 1 as the qualifying date, whereas in the rest of the country, January 1 is the qualifying or cut-off date.

“We went for October 1 as the qualifying date there (J&K) as we wanted to complete the process as fast as possible. This process (fresh special summary revision) is to bring them (J&K) at par as far as the voters’ list is concerned,” he told reporters at a press conference convened to announce schedule for the Karnataka assembly polls.

Kumar was responding to a question on the fresh special summary revision of electoral rolls in the Union territory.

“But nonetheless, it does not disturb the scheduled part, the conduct part that depends on various other factors which we will come back to you. We are aware that there is a vacuum that needs to be filled,” the CEC said.

A few days ago, the poll panel had ordered a fresh special summary revision of the electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir.

While April 1 has been set as the qualifying date for the summary revision, May 10 is the date for publication of the final electoral rolls.

Following a recent amendment in the election law based on the recommendation of the poll panel, there are four qualifying dates or cut-off dates January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 – to enrol as voters. Earlier, January 1 was the only cut-off date.

Recently, Kumar had said that assembly polls in J&K will be held keeping in mind various factors, including weather and security concerns. He had noted that the delimitation process in the UT was completed and so was the special summary revision or revision of electoral roll.

The CEC had said returning officers and additional electoral registration officers had also been appointed in the rearranged and new constituencies.