The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, during a press conference in Jammu on Friday, stated that the exact dates for the Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections will be announced after a final security assessment is conducted in Delhi.
He emphasized that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is committed to holding the polls at the earliest and that minor attempts to disrupt the process will not deter them.
Addressing concerns about recent terror attacks in the Jammu region, the CEC assured that the security forces are fully capable of handling the situation. “We will not let these minor disruptions derail the election process in J-K,” he said. However, he kept the suspense regarding the exact poll dates.
Kumar noted that all political parties in Jammu Kashmir are united in their call for immediate conduct of the long-delayed elections.
He mentioned that feedback from security heads and district police chiefs indicated readiness for peaceful elections despite a few security challenges.
He recalled that the election process in J-K began soon after the Lok Sabha elections and the completion of the delimitation exercise in May 2022, followed by the passage of the J&K Reorganization Act in Parliament in December.
He praised the people of Jammu Kashmir for their significant participation in the Lok Sabha polls, particularly highlighting the large turnout of women and youth.
During his meetings with political parties in Srinagar and Jammu, they expressed their appreciation for the peaceful conduct of the Lok Sabha elections and raised several concerns, including the proximity of polling booths and the need for CCTV coverage at polling stations.
The CEC assured that these demands have been addressed.
Responding to a question about the Supreme Court’s September deadline for holding elections in JK, Kumar stated that no internal or external force can delay the polls.
He expressed confidence that the people of JK would respond appropriately to any disruptive forces.
Political parties also requested a level playing field and a review of the security cover for politicians, which the CEC promised would be ensured.
He also assured that polling stations would not be clubbed at the last minute, except in certain cases due to geographical reasons.