The Election Commission (EC) on Friday held meetings with top Home Ministry and Railway officials to discuss the deployment and movement of security personnel across the country ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The EC top brass also discussed the possibility of holding assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir alongside state assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
While the Supreme Court had directed the EC to hold assembly polls in Jammu Kashmir by September 30, there was no official word on whether assembly polls in J-K can be held with Lok Sabha polls expected to take place in April-May.
The terms of the state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim end on different dates in June and state elections there will be held alongside Lok Sabha polls.
Whenever assembly elections are held in J-K, they will be the first since Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union territories in 2019.
The electoral exercise in Jammu Kashmir is usually spread over a month. Following the delimitation, the number of assembly seats has gone up from 83 to 90, excluding the seats allocated to Pakistan administered Kashmir.
In December last, the Supreme Court had directed the poll panel to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30. During the meetings, the poll panel underlined the need for timely movement of central forces being deployed for election duty.
The Commission stressed the need for good coaches in trains which will be used for the movement of security personnel and pressed for food on board such trains.
The poll panel was represented by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and fellow Election Commissioner Arun Goel, and other senior officials.
During the deliberations, the EC insisted on meeting the deadline of early next week for “advanced induction” of security personnel.
The Commission also demanded a sufficient number of helicopters for the deployment of central forces in difficult terrain, including areas affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
The poll panel has also asked for cashless treatment of personnel in case of injury or other medical emergencies during poll duty deployment.
The meeting comes days before the Commission is likely to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections.
The crucial deliberations also come days ahead of the Commission’s Jammu Kashmir visit early next week to review poll preparedness.
The EC has sought 3.4 lakh Central Armed Police Force personnel for Lok Sabha and four assembly polls.
With nearly 97 crore voters, the EC would set up approximately 12.5 lakh polling stations across India.
The last time Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10 and were held in seven phases beginning April 11. Votes were counted on May 23. PTI