The state unit of Congress on Wednesday said that the party was not in favour of Panchayat and local body elections as the poll announcement was made without taking into consideration the ground situation prevailing in the state.Reports reaching news gathering agency Global News Agency said that JKPCC state President Ghulam Ahmad Mir addressed a news conference at the party headquarters here this morning in which he blamed Governor and BJP led government of creating chaos, confusion and uncertainty over the Panchayat and local body polls.“Even a blind person can tell you that the situation is not fit for polls in the state right now. The chaos and confusion in Governor Administration and central government is well known to all of you,” Mir said.“Congress wants Governor and the Central administration to clear their stand. They should come up with clarity if they were sincere to hold elections in the state,” he added.The state Congress Chief said that he and other party leaders met Governor Satya Pal Malik for the second time on Tuesday over the issue of elections.“I think the Central government is merely testing the waters. They don’t seem to be serious on holding elections,” he said.He said that the elections were fraught with hurdles and the people weighing options to contest the upcoming local body polls had no sense of guarantee.
“Govt has no clear policy on Kashmir. Govt is itself a victim of confusion,” Mir said, adding “We want a credible face from the Governor administration to come out with assurances on polls and tell us what preparations have been made. Issuing orders from close door rooms won’t change the situation in Kashmir.Congress party, Mir said was monitoring situation minutely from last night as any issue related to Kashmir makes an impact across the country.“We want centre and state to clear its policy and programme and put it before polls and after that Congress will take its decision,” he said, adding “Congress has run this country for 70 years. We don’t want to make a mere announcement about the polls,”He said a delegation of Congress leaders will be sent to Delhi to appraise the party high command.In a veiled attack on People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mir said that the elements raking up the special status issue were encouraged by the same party who have called for the boycott of Panchayat and local body polls. “Congress is a party that is in favour of Article 35-A. You must identify those people who are supporters of those elements who are against the continuation of Article-35A,” he said. (GNS)