The first assembly polls post-delimitation and revocation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)’s semi-autonomous status in 2019 are likely to be delayed further due to a delay in the publication of final electoral roll by a month.
The Election Commission of India had directed the publication by October 25, a mandatory process before election dates could be announced. In a communication on Wednesday, J&K’s chief electoral officer said the final roll will now be published on November 25. A draft roll was to be prepared by August 31 before its finalisation.
In May, a panel assigned with the task of redrawing the electoral constituencies submitted its final report and paved the way for the assembly polls.
J&K has been without an elected government since Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew its support to chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party-led coalition in June 2018.
Political parties have started preparing for the polls by holding rallies and meetings across J&K, which was also divided into two Union territories in 2019.
Officials said there are remote chances of holding the elections this year with the delay in the publication of the electoral roll. Large parts of the Himalayan region become snow-bound starting December.