Srinagar, October 17
An Election Commission of India team will arrive in the Valley tomorrow to hold deliberations with political parties and the administration before taking any decision on holding the Legislative Assembly elections due in Jammu and Kashmir by the end of this year.

The decision had been delayed due to the devastating floods that hit various parts of the state and the capital city of Srinagar early last month. Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi had visited the state recently to assess the situation in the wake of the floods, which led to the delay in any decision on holding the Assembly elections.

The commission headed by CEC VS Sampath and accompanied by two Election Commissioners HS Brahma and Nasim Zaidi is scheduled to arrive here in the morning and convene a meeting with various political parties and civil administration.

The meetings are being held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre, which is holding third such event this month after the restoration work started following the devastating floods.

Sources said first the EC would hold meetings with leaders of various political parties. The commission will then have video-conferencing with Deputy Commissioners and also District Election Officers across Kashmir Division.

The division comprises 10 districts of Kashmir valley and two districts of Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region. The EC is scheduled to fly to Jammu in the evening. While the NC is not in favour of holding the elections on time, its coalition partner, the Congress, the opposition PDP and other parties think otherwise.