Though Election Commission of India is obliged to establish more and more new polling stations to shorten the distance of voters for the purposes of increasing the possibilities of higher turn outs both in urban and rural areas more so in remote parts of every state of the country but ironically the election authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have choosen to club the polling stations instead of establishing more and more polling stations more so in rural areas for the purposes of increasing the possibility of higher turn outs in the ensuing lok sabha elections in the state. Very rightly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised questions over the decision of clubbing of polling stations with a demand for immediate roll back of the decision but the election authorities of Jammu & Kashmir are yet to clear the air on the clubbing of polling stations. Though the security concerns of the government on conduct of peaceful lok sabha elections in Kashmir valley could be a big reason for clubbing of the polling station as providing security for larger number of polling stations in the present hostile security atmosphere is a Himalayan challenge for police, paramilitaries and army but keeping in view the criticism and resentment of the contesting political parties the clubbing of polling stations on grounds of security concerns is an indefensible defence for both the government and as well as election authorities in Jammu and Kashmir state.
Before the row over clubbing of polling stations brings top election authorities of the state at the centre of a major controversy, the situation demands that the Election Commission of India already facing huge criticism and condemnation over the deferment of assembly elections from all mainstream political parties excepting BJP in the state, takes serious not of the concerns of the contesting political parties and rolls back its unwanted decision on clubbing of polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir to ward off allegations of facilitating low turn outs in the ensuing lok sabha elections in the state.
Not only PDP taking a lead role in raising questions on clubbing of polling stations ahead of ensuing lok sabha elections but other contesting political parties too would demand roll back of the decision for the purposes of increasing the possibility of higher turn outs in the state and more so in Kashmir valley. Before the row over clubbing of polling stations brings top election authorities of the state at the centre of a major controversy, the situation demands that the Election Commission of India already facing huge criticism and condemnation over the deferment of assembly elections from all mainstream political parties excepting BJP in the state, takes serious not of the concerns of the contesting political parties and rolls back its unwanted decision on clubbing of polling stations in Jammu and Kashmir to ward off allegations of facilitating low turn outs in the ensuing lok sabha elections in the state.
