EC will decide on Assembly polls in flood-hit J&K: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Sep 8: The government on Monday said any decision with regard to holding Assembly polls in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir will be taken by the Election Commission (EC) as it is the ultimate authority in that regard.

"We should not connect the natural disaster and tragedy with either elections or politics. The Election Commission will take a decision and they are the ultimate decision makers in that regard," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said when asked if the flood disaster would have any bearing on the forthcoming polls.

The state is slated to go to polls later this year. "I cannot comment anything as of now and the situation has to be assessed and only after that a final decision can be taken. The Election Commission will decide on this subject," he said.

On the state of security forces and their infrastructure in the state in the wake of the floods, Singh said no border post of the Army, BSF or other forces has been washed away due to the floods.

"There is no such information like that received from there. Every Army personnel in the border is safe. Infact, our Army and paramilitary forces are trying to save people and I compliment the Army, paramilitary forces and the NDRF for the exceptional work they are doing," he said.

PTI