Jammu: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday said no internal or external forces would be allowed to disrupt the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir which will be held “at the earliest”.
Talking to reporters at the end of the two-day visit of an Election Commission delegation to the Union Territory, Kumar emphasised that all political parties in the region have sought for the assembly elections to take place soon.
This was the first major exercise for preparing the grounds for holding the maiden assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after it was downgraded to a Union Territory on August 05, 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
The visit of the three-member EC team led by Kumar comes ahead of the September 30 deadline given by the Supreme Court earlier this year for the completion of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We are committed to conducting elections at the earliest in Jammu and Kashmir. We are confident that the people will respond robustly to any disruptive forces and increase their participation when elections are held,” Kumar said.
Accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu, the CEC highlighted that the timing for the elections is right, especially in light of the successful parliamentary elections held recently.
“We are ready to build on the successes of the parliamentary elections. We will first review the availability of security forces in New Delhi, keeping in mind the Supreme Court’s deadline of September 30. We will keep you informed about the timeline for elections,” he added.
The EC delegation was in Srinagar on Thursday where they met representatives of political parties as well as senior officials including Chief Secretary Atul Dulloo and Director General of Police R R Swain.
Kumar explained that the scheduling of elections in any state is contingent upon the expiration of the assembly’s term.
“Elections in four to five states are scheduled for this year, each with separate timelines, and we are prepared for that,” he said.
The EC has already completed a review in Jammu and Kashmir, and with the Amarnath Yatra concluding on August 19, security requirements will be assessed in Delhi before announcing the election dates.
During their visit, the delegation engaged with representatives from nine political parties, including the mainstream regional parties like the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party besides the BJP, Congress, AAP, BSP, CPIM and the J&K National Panthers Party.
Kumar said there was unanimous agreement among the parties on the importance of conducting assembly elections promptly, emphasising the need for elected representatives to foster better connections with the public.
“All parties expressed their desire for early elections, believing it is crucial for the people to form their own government,” he noted.
Kumar said the political representatives acknowledged the role of the EC in the recent parliamentary elections in bolstering public faith in the electoral process, with high voter turnout and no major incidents reported.
“These are recognised parties in the state. All parties unanimously praised the people and the Election Commission for conducting peaceful and historic parliamentary elections in J&K,” Kumar said.
The CEC noted that the parties also called for a level playing field in the polls.
“They emphasised the need for elected representatives to connect better with the people, ensuring the progress of democracy in the region. They believe that the people should form their own government,” he said.
While addressing concerns regarding the recent spurt in terror attacks, Kumar reassured that security issues would not hinder the electoral process.
“There have been some minor changes in the security situation since the parliamentary elections, but these will not disrupt the elections. The administration is fully capable of managing such challenges,” he asserted.
Kumar emphasised that the enthusiasm and the expected high voter turnout in the upcoming polls would not be diminished by any challenges.
“We are committed to ensuring that nothing disrupts the election process. The forces and administration are more than capable of handling any situation,” he stated.
The CEC outlined directives regarding security, voter facilities, and creating an optimal environment for the elections. He stressed the importance of proactive measures at polling stations to encourage participation, particularly among young voters.
EC team holds consultations with CS, DGP
The Election Commission on Friday held consultations with the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary and the union territory’s police chief to review the preparedness for assembly polls, officials said.
On the second day of their visit, the EC delegation comprising Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu held discussions with Chief Secretary Atal Dullo and J&K Police DGP R R Swain, the officials said.
The ECI reviewed the preparedness of the administration as well as the security agencies for the conduct of the polls.
The ECI team sought feedback from the DGP on the readiness and preparation of the forces for the polls, the officials said.
The issues of deployment of forces, providing security cover to candidates, and security during campaigning were deliberated upon, the officials added.
After the meeting, the ECI team left for Jammu where it will hold a review meeting with enforcement agencies. It will also hold a press conference to brief the media on the review process.
On the first day of its visit on Thursday, the ECI team held deliberations with political parties who demanded immediate polls in the UT, which would be the first assembly election in J-K in the last 10 years.
Assembly polls have not been held in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014. The polls were due to be held in early 2019 following the dissolution of the legislative body of the erstwhile state in 2018.
However, after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into Union territories in August 2019, the Assembly polls could not be held due to various reasons, including a delimitation exercise that was completed in 2022.
The Supreme Court in December last year directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30 this year.
Election Commission organises programmes for youths in Kashmir
Scores of enthusiastic youth in Kashmir on Friday came together to promote the importance of voting and express their faith in democracy, by participating in several programmes inaugurated here by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar.
Hundreds of youngsters of Kashmir came together with unmatched enthusiasm, promoting the importance of voting and expressing their faith in democracy, officials said.
The students participated in several programmes under SVEEP, including Run for Democracy, Cycle Rally and Shikara Rally at SKICC here, the officials said, adding that the events were inaugurated by CEC Kumar along with Election Commissioners (ECs) Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu.
Kumar led the cycle rally along with ECs as a part of voter awareness and enrolment.
The Election Commission is currently undertaking 2nd Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls in J&K.
The youngsters enlightened with the vision of democracy showed overwhelming participation in the events making the SKICC and Back Waters of Dal Lake abuzz with the vibes and flavour of democracy, the officials said.
Chanting slogans like ‘we are proud voters’, the youngsters pledged to be the ambassadors of democracy in the valley.
This underscored their faith in the democratic process and commitment to strengthen democracy, and educate their friends, colleagues, classmates and general people about the significance of Electoral Participation, the officials said.
High-spirited eligible youngsters vouched to register themselves in the voter lists of their respective areas and encourage youth of their peer groups, they said.
The CEC and ECs appreciated participants for spreading the message of democracy and the importance of exercising the valuable Right to Franchise.
The team of Election Commission of India arrived here on Thursday to review the preparedness for assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and take feedback from political parties.
The ECI met the representatives of political parties and also held deliberations with officers in the police and civil administration, before leaving for Jammu.
