EC team arrives in Kashmir

Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy on Thursday promised "free, fair and transparent parliamentary election in Jammu and Kashmir."

Krishnamurthy arrived in Srinagar in the afternoon accompanied by the two election commissioners -- B B Tandon and N Gopalaswami -- on a three-day visit to review poll preparations.

"We have come here to take stock of the arrangements for ensuring free and fair elections and discuss related issues with the authorities and political parties," S Krishnamurthy told newsmen.

Expressing optimism that it will be a "perfect election," Krishnamurthy said he is "confident that there would be greater [voter] response this time as things appear to be better."

Answering a question on the controversy over surrogate advertising, he said:  "The commission is convening an all-party meeting to discuss issues like surrogate advertisements and exit and opinion polls. We want to evolve broader consensus among political parties on these issues."

The CEC refused to comment on the reported remarks of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son saying "the Election Commission has not received any complaint so far."

He, however, said that political parties must "conduct themselves in responsible manner" and if they "indulge in mudslinging and personal attacks they would be bringing disgrace to democracy."

The EC team was received at the airport by the state chief secretary and the police chief.

Krishnamurthy was presented a guard of honour on his arrival by a contingent  of the state armed police.

Just hours before Krishnamurthy's arrival, militants bombed the heavily guarded headquarters of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Two SMC employees were injured in the explosion.