Srinagar: The political parties of Kashmir Monday impressed upon the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir simultaneously with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The ECI Monday began a two-day visit to the state to assess the feasibility of holding the Lok Sabha and the assembly polls simultaneously.
Delegations of National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Pradesh Congress Committee and other smaller parties met the EC team headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora to put forth their views about holding of assembly elections in the state.
The officials said the team will leave for Jammu later in the day and hold similar interactions there Tuesday.
"We impressed upon the Election Commission that there is no reason why Assembly elections cannot be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections. Not holding assembly polls will send wrong signals to people within and outside the state," NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani, who was part of his party's delegation, said after the meeting.
Wani said the NC delegation informed the commission that restoration of an elected government in the state was urgently needed as the Governor's administration was taking decisions on matters with widespread implications.
PDP delegation leader Abdul Rehman Veeri said his party also wanted an early election to the state assembly so that a people's government is put in place.
Asked if PDP delegation had sought assembly polls be held alongside Lok Sabha elections, Veeri was non-committal. "The elections should be held as soon as possible," he said.
Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin said his party delegation highlighted the fact that holding assembly elections together with Lok Sabha elections can lead to higher voter turnout as was witnessed in 2008 assembly polls.With PTI inputs