Won't object to holding J&K polls: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

The Centre on Thursday squashed all speculations that it may not hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and added that polls in the state could be held along with general elections later this year.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh clarified the government's position on the issue while winding down the debate in Rajya Sabha on the resolution he had moved on the President's proclamation related to J&K under Article 356. The upper House saw a lengthy debate on the issue and the resolution was eventually ratified after Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad initiated the debate earlier.

The Centre had imposed President's rule in J&K on December 19 after six months of Governor's rule expired.

Singh said that this was not the first time that J&K was witnessing President's rule and rebutting criticism of his government, said the intentions of the government should not doubted. "If Election Commission wants, our government will have no objection," Singh said when Leader of Opposition sought a clarification about elections in the state before the resolution on President's Rule was put to vote.

Responding to Azad's criticism that the Centre and governor did not push for formation of a state government, Singh said the Governor had stated that there was no initiative from political parties to form a new government.