SRINAGAR: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, Rajiv Kumar, on Friday said that the exact dates for the JK Assembly elections will be announced after the final security assessment is conducted in Delhi.
He assured that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is committed to holding the Assembly polls in J&K at the earliest and that minor attempts to disrupt the process will not delay the elections.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, the CEC, mentioned that they wish to avoid a “Chicken and Egg” situation in JK, particularly in light of recent attacks in the Jammu region. “Our forces are capable of handling the situation, and we will not let these minor disruptions derail the election process in JK,” he stated. “As for the exact dates, we will conduct the final security requirement assessment back in Delhi and announce the poll dates accordingly.” He left the exact dates of the elections in JK unresolved.
The CEC also noted that all political parties in J&K are aligned in their desire for early elections. “The feedback we received from security heads, administrative officers, and district police chiefs indicates that, despite some security challenges, they are prepared for peaceful elections in J&K,” he said.
Accompanied by two Election Commissioners, the CEC recalled his earlier visit to the region for the Lok Sabha polls. “In May 2022, following the completion of JK’s delimitation and the passage of the J&K Reorganisation Act in Parliament in December, we began the process of holding elections in J&K,” he explained. “The Lok Sabha polls are complete, and the Amarnath Yatra is ongoing. The people of J&K made history by participating in record numbers in the elections. The world and the people of India praised the large turnout of women and youth.”
He added that political parties he met in Srinagar and Jammu commended the ECI for conducting peaceful Lok Sabha polls and made some requests, including polling booths within a two-kilometre radius and CCTV coverage of polling. “We have assured them that both demands have been met, and instructions have been issued,” he said.
When asked about the Supreme Court’s September deadline for holding polls in J&K, the CEC asserted that no internal or external forces could delay the elections. “The people of J&K will give a fitting response to any disruptive forces,” he remarked.
He also noted that political parties requested a level playing field and a review of the security arrangements for politicians. “We have taken note of this and will ensure a level playing field and a security review for politicians to enable them to carry out their activities normally,” the CEC said, according to KNO. He further mentioned that another demand was to avoid last-minute polling station changes, assuring that no polling booth would be clubbed except in rare cases due to geographical reasons.
