Brushing aside reservations of ruling National Conference, the Election Commission today decided to go ahead with holding Assembly polls in flood-devastated Jammu and Kashmir and announced a five-phased schedule between November 23 and December 20.

Barring ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, all the major political parties Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, BJP, CPI(M) have welcomed the decision of the Election Commission of India to hold Assembly Elections in the State.

AIR correspondent reports that General Secretary J&K National Conference Ali Mohammad Sagar said that his Party opposes the elections at this point of time because the party feels that this is not the opportune time for holding elections as this was the time to focus on relief and rehabilitation rather than going for polls.

However, Sagar said that since the party has always been a votary of strengthening democracy and democratic values in the state it will participate in the polls.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz while reacting on the Election Commissions’ decision said that it is the prerogative of the Election Commission to decide as to when hold elections. The main Opposition party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed the Election Commission's decision .

Party President Mehbooba Mufti said that the present ruling coalition has miserably failed especially in the aftermath of devastating floods in coming up-to the expectation of the people and people want a change which can deliver .

The State Unit of BJP has also welcomed the Election Commission decision. The Party Spokesperson for Kashmir Altaf Thakur said that it was a sensible decision taken by the Commission to hold elections in time.