SRINAGAR: A team of senior officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI) undertook a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, during which they reviewed the preparedness of the forthcoming Assembly Elections in the Union Territory.
During the two-day visit on 11-12 September, the ECI officials visited Ramban and Anantnag districts, where they held review meetings with the Civil Administration and Police officials of all the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The ECI officials reviewed and stressed on critical issues highlighted by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar earlier during a review with Chief Secretary, DGP and head of CAPF for fair and transparent electoral process. Administration was directed to ensure that preventive actions would be free of any partisan bias and only individuals with a proven history of antisocial or criminal behaviour would be targeted.
The administration would avoid undue arrests around polling day. Only individuals with legitimate antisocial or criminal backgrounds would be detained, ensuring that the process remains fair and transparent, the ECI officials said, adding that this move is aimed at eliminating previous concerns of selective or politically motivated actions.
The ECI officials also asserted that no last-minute restrictions would be imposed on the number of participants allowed in rallies or meetings, and instructed that the administration would grant permissions for political gatherings with due diligence and without any bias or without any undue interference.
The officials were informed that security has to be provided equally to all candidates, without any discrimination or restriction on movement. This will ensure a level playing field for all parties, and will prevent exposing any candidate to heightened vulnerability.
The ECI team also reiterated that the practice of last-minute changes or clubbing of polling stations—often justified on security grounds has been prohibited and the voters need to be assured that polling station locations would not be altered at the eleventh hour, to avoid any last minute confusion amongst voters about their polling stations.
Reiterating the commission’s commitment to establish a solid foundation for Assembly Elections, the ECI officials took stock of the J&K Election Department’s efforts towards enhancing the participation of voters and candidates, campaigning and election festivities.
The ECI team reinforced the other directions of the Commission given from time to time in the past.
Concluding their visit on Thursday, the ECI team expressed satisfaction with the preparedness for the upcoming elections and exhorted the officers to continue their efforts to ensure a historic voter turnout in the polls.
