ECI yet to decide on simultaneous or separate elections: CEO

Srinagar, Mar 8: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Friday said that Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to take a final call on conduct of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously or separately and a decision in this connection is expected in coming few days.
Talking to Kashmir News Service, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar said that Election Commission of India is yet to take a final decision on holding simultaneously or separately Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir State and a decision in this connection will be taken in next few days after due consultations with the Union Home Ministry and security agencies providing security for the poll relate activities.
He said the poll dates will also be accordingly announced hopefully in the coming week.
Meanwhile top sources said that some political parties interested in deferment of assembly elections are spreading canards and lending view to speculations that elections can be deferred separately but sources told KNS that it could be either way but there is more possibility of the conduct of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously then the deferment of assembly polls as there is a Supreme Court ruling by virtue of which presidential rule cannot be extended beyond May this year.
Election Commission of India recently took a brief from all the political parties and almost all mainstream parties overtly and covertly demanded the holding of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously and opposed tooth and nail any move to defer assembly elections and they instead advised deferment of Lok Sabha polls instead of assembly polls in the state.