SRINAGAR: The ECI met with political delegations that were urging for prompt Assembly elections in J&K.
All political parties, including the BJP unit of J&K, have urged the Election Commission delegation, led by the Chief Election Commissioner, to hold assembly elections as soon as possible. The delegation was on a two-day visit to J&K to gather feedback from political parties and the administration regarding the assembly polls.
On Friday, the Election Commission delegation held comprehensive deliberations with the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, the UT Police Chief, and other senior officers regarding the elections. They also received feedback from various security agencies and the J&K Police Chief about the readiness to conduct assembly elections across the region.
Earlier, the ECI team met with delegations from different regional and national political parties, all of whom called for assembly elections to be held as soon as possible. It is noteworthy that a decade has passed since the last assembly polls were held in the former state of J&K. The Supreme Court has directed the government to conclude the assembly elections in J&K by September 30 this year.
The National Conference delegation, after meeting with the ECI delegation, emphasised the need for a level playing field and unbiased decisions. National Conference (NC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah recently called for “a level playing field” during the upcoming Assembly elections in J&K.
“Our only request to the Election Commission of India (ECI) is to issue the notification as soon as possible and start the process. All parties should be treated equally so that we can fight elections on a level playing field,” he said.
The PDP stated that the conditions were conducive to holding assembly elections and allowing people to elect their representatives. Asiya Naqash of the PDP said they reminded the ECI that during their last visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP had suggested that the Assembly elections be held alongside the Lok Sabha polls. “We told them your visit is late, given the Supreme Court deadline for holding elections in September,” she said. “We told them we hope you will announce the Assembly elections.” Naqash also told the media that ECI officials assured them they would meet again.
The Congress delegation, after meeting with the EC team, emphasised the need for security coverage for all opposition leaders and party workers during the upcoming assembly elections in J&K. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga stated that they told the ECI that India is the mother of democracy, yet Jammu and Kashmir has been denied elections for the last 10 years. “We insisted that elections be held at the earliest,” he said. “We also raised security concerns for political leaders and workers whose security has been withdrawn.”
The EC team, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the preparedness for holding assembly elections. They met with representatives of all major political parties and held detailed meetings with senior police and administrative officials from all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Election Commission has already indicated that after the recent record turnout in the Kashmir Valley during the parliamentary elections, assembly elections will be held soon.