NC, PDP welcome Kashmir's 'perceived poll deferment'

Srinagar, Oct 14 (IANS) Two major regional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday welcomed what they termed the 'deferment' by the Election Commission of the state assembly elections.

'It is a clear vindication of our party's stand that the time is not ripe yet for holding of state assembly elections,' Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said soon after Chief Election Commissioner N.

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Gopalaswamy announced in New Delhi the dates of state polls in Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan but that Kashmir, for now, would be out of the poll exercise.

Mehbooba also said more needed to be done to restore confidence among the people of Kashmir before poll dates could be announced.

Abdul Rahim Rather, a senior leader of the National Conference (NC), also welcomed the Election Commission decision.

'We have already said that the time is not right for holding the assembly elections here. We welcome the decision announced today,' Rather told reporters here.

Hakim Muhammad Yasin, chief of the People's Democratic Forum (PDF) and a former minister in the Congress-led coalition government here, also welcomed the Election Commission decision.

'It is the right decision to defer the assembly polls here for the moment,' he said.