CEC Assures Secure and Timely Elections in Jammu and Kashmir

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar assured no internal or external forces would disrupt upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. During a two-day visit, he emphasized the urgency for elections and reviewed security arrangements, fulfilling the Supreme Court's deadline for completion by September 30.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday assured that no internal or external forces would disrupt the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which are scheduled to be held at the earliest.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day visit by an Election Commission delegation to the Union Territory, Kumar stressed that all political parties in the region have called for timely elections.

This visit marked the first significant step in preparing for the maiden assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since its reorganization as a Union Territory on August 5, 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370.

The three-member EC team, led by Kumar, visited ahead of the September 30 deadline set by the Supreme Court for completing the elections. "We are committed to conducting elections at the earliest in Jammu and Kashmir. We are confident the people will respond robustly to any disruptive forces and increase their participation," Kumar said.

Accompanied by Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu, Kumar underscored that the timing is right, especially given the success of recent parliamentary elections. He mentioned that they would first review security forces' availability in New Delhi while keeping the Supreme Court's deadline in mind.

During their visit to Srinagar on Thursday, the delegation met with political party representatives and senior officials, including Chief Secretary Atul Dulloo and Director General of Police R R Swain.

Kumar explained that election scheduling in any state depends on the assembly's term expiration. He noted that elections in four to five states are scheduled for this year, each with separate timelines, and they are prepared for this.

The EC has finished a review in Jammu and Kashmir, and with the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra on August 19, security assessments will be conducted in Delhi before announcing the election dates.

The delegation interacted with representatives from nine political parties, including mainstream regional parties like the National Conference and PDP, alongside BJP, Congress, AAP, BSP, CPIM, and J&K National Panthers Party. There was unanimous agreement on the urgency of conducting assembly elections promptly to enable the public to elect their government.

Kumar noted that political representatives praised the EC's role in recent parliamentary elections, which saw high voter turnout and no major incidents. They also called for a level playing field in the polls and stressed the need for elected representatives to foster a better connection with the public to advance democracy in the region.

Addressing security concerns, Kumar reassured that recent terror attacks would not disrupt the electoral process, asserting that the administration is fully capable of managing such challenges.

Kumar emphasized that enthusiasm and expected high voter turnout would not diminish despite challenges. "We are committed to ensuring that nothing disrupts the election process. The forces and administration can handle any situation," he stated.

The CEC outlined directives for ensuring security, voter facilities, and creating an optimal election environment. He stressed proactive measures at polling stations to encourage participation, particularly among young voters.

Earlier in Srinagar, enthusiastic students promoted the importance of voting and expressed their faith in democracy through various programmes, including a 'Run for Democracy', a cycle rally, and a shikara rally at SKICC. Chanting slogans like 'we are proud voters', they pledged to be democracy ambassadors in the valley.