Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Aug 18: Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Hirdesh Kumar, has made a significant announcement, stating that non-locals, including employees, students, labourers, or anyone from outside who resides ordinarily in Jammu and Kashmir, may register their names in the voting list and vote in the J&K elections.
He said that outsiders could register as voters without having to meet the residence criterion. Additionally, he stated that members of the military forces from other states stationed at peace posts in J&K might add their names to the voter list.
Former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti reacted angrily to this announcement and criticised the Centre, claiming that this will not benefit the BJP when the people of J&K have the opportunity to cast their votes.
“Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats? None of these things will help the BJP when the people of J&K are given a chance to exercise their franchise,” Omar tweeted.
Is the BJP so insecure about support from genuine voters of J&K that it needs to import temporary voters to win seats? None of these things will help the BJP when the people of J&K are given a chance to exercise their franchise. https://t.co/ZayxjHiaQy
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 17, 2022
“GOIs decision to defer polls in J&K preceded by egregious gerrymandering tilting the balance in BJPs favour & now allowing non locals to vote is obviously to influence election results. Real aim is to continue ruling J&K with an iron fist to disempower locals,” Said Mehbooba Mufti in a tweet.
GOIs decision to defer polls in J&K preceded by egregious gerrymandering tilting the balance in BJPs favour & now allowing non locals to vote is obviously to influence election results. Real aim is to continue ruling J&K with an iron fist to disempower locals. https://t.co/zHzqaMseG6
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 17, 2022
Sajjad Lone, the head of the Peoples Conference and a former minister, claimed that allowing non-locals to vote in assembly elections would be just as devastating as election cheating in 1987.
The Election Commission recently released a revised schedule, which states that an integrated draught electoral roll will be published on September 15 and that claims and objections may be filed between September 15 and October 25 with a deadline for resolution of those claims and objections of November 10.
