New Delhi: People residing in Jammu for more than a year will now be able to vote in the upcoming assembly elections. Jammu Deputy Commissioner Avani Lavasa issued an order in this regard on Tuesday. On the other hand, the National Conference has vehemently opposed this order of the Deputy Commissioner.
Here is what the order reads
The Deputy Commissioner sent an order to all Tehsildars (Revenue Officers). It asked them to issue residence certificate to every person who has been residing in their Tehsil for more than a year. Based on this the names of these people will be included in the voter list. The order also pointed out that no eligible voter should be left out from the voter’s list.
This is the first time that an electoral amendment is being done after the abrogation of Article 370. As per the order, any document like Aadhar card, water/electricity/gas connection, bank passbook, passport can be used as a proof of residence.
National Conference protests vehemently
On the other hand, the National Conference has opposed the order issued by the Deputy Commissioner. Reacting to the order, the official Twitter handle of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) wrote that our party opposes this move of the government. BJP is afraid of elections and knows that it will lose badly.
The Government is going ahead with its plan to add 25 lakh non-local voters in J&K and we continue to oppose this move. BJP is scared of the elections & knows it will lose badly. People of J&K must defeat these conspiracies at the ballot box. pic.twitter.com/U6fjnUpRct
— JKNC (@JKNC_) October 11, 2022
Additional 25 lakh eligible voters will be enrolled
In August, the then Chief Electoral Officer Hridesh Kumar had said that after the special revision of the electoral roll, Jammu and Kashmir may get about 25 lakh additional voters, including outsiders. His statement was opposed by all parties except BJP.
The assembly elections are likely to be held soon in Jammu and Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his recent visit to Jammu, had indicated that elections would be held soon in the Valley.
