Srinagar, Apr 30 (KNS): National Conference (NC) vice president and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said it for the first time since 1996 that assembly elections in the State were not conducted on time.

Talking to reporters in South Kashmir’s Shopian district, Omar, as per Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent said that the last five years of Prime Minister Modi led government proved disastrous for Jammu and Kashmir. “He (Modi) deteriorated the stabilized situation created by my government till 2014,” he said.

Omar said that the deterioration of situation on ground has also caused inordinate delay in holding of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was for the first time since 1996 that assembly polls were not being held on time in the State.

He added that it was PM Modi led government in centre and BJP and its allies, PDP in J&K who are responsible for the delay in assembly polls.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is under President’s rule from the past ten months while as reports suggest that Governor Administration has urged the Election Commission to go for polls in November.

Reports said that the poll panel was expected to conduct state elections in June-July, however, Governor Administration while opposing the move has cited Ramazan, Amarnath Yatra and peak tourism season in the valley as the reasons for delaying polls.

Earlier, the EC had appointed three-member team of special observers including S Gill (former IPS officer), Noor Muhammad (former IAS officer) and Vinod Zutshi (former IAS officer) who visited the State and held deliberations with the political parties and assessed the ground situation.

The EC team has submitted the report to the poll panel wherein they have forwarded three dates for Assembly polls viz June 8 to June 24, May 15 to June 15 and after September 15. (KNS)