by Faiqa Masoodi
SRINAGAR: If nothing goes off the script, Jammu and Kashmir may have an assembly in place by November 10, informed sources in Delhi revealed. The government of India has decided to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir within the deadline set by the Supreme Court.
Sources said the assembly elections will occur in multiple phases in October and are expected to span over five weeks.
The poll schedule is expected to be out by the third week of August after the Election Commission of India concludes its security-related meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other allied security organisations. The full Commission had a three-day Jammu and Kashmir visit during which the political class interacted apart from civil administration and police officers. The Commission asserted that security concerns would not be permitted to become a factor in further delay in polls in the erstwhile state that saw the last election in 2014, nearly a decade ago.
Talking to the media in Jammu, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the time has come for Jammu and Kashmir to have its own government. The Election Commission (EC) is committed to holding elections in the region as soon as possible, confident that the people will robustly respond to disruptive forces. After a state-level review, Kumar emphasised that the conditions are right for assembly elections.
The EC will assess the availability of security forces in New Delhi, keeping the Supreme Court’s September 30 deadline in mind. The timing of the elections depends on the expiry of the assembly’s term, and the EC is preparing for elections in multiple states this year. Following the Amarnath Yatra’s conclusion on August 19, security requirements will be reviewed.
During a visit, the CEC team met representatives from nine political parties in Srinagar, all of whom praised the peaceful parliamentary elections and called for assembly elections to be held soon. Kumar acknowledged the challenges posed by recent security incidents but assured that they would not disrupt the elections. He emphasized the EC’s resolve to conduct the elections without delay and highlighted the importance of building on the momentum from the previous elections.
Kumar also noted the anticipated increase in voter participation, particularly among young voters, and stressed the need for proactive arrangements at polling stations. He affirmed that the administration and security forces are fully capable of managing any challenges, ensuring that democracy continues to thrive in Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to concerns about recent terror attacks, Kumar used the chicken-and-egg analogy, asserting that stepping back in the face of such challenges would be conceding defeat, which the EC will not allow. The flag of democracy, he said, will continue to fly high.
The day after the Election Commission of India signalled its intent to soon hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the administration initiated preparations to ready the assembly complexes in Jammu and Srinagar.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting on Saturday to outline a plan for preparing the Legislative Assembly complexes in both cities for post-election sessions. The last assembly election in J&K was held in 2014, and the PDP-BJP coalition government, which resulted from that election, collapsed in June 2018. Since the abrogation of Article 370, the Legislative Council has been abolished, leaving only the Legislative Assembly in place.
Dulloo directed immediate renovations and refurbishments of the Assembly complexes in Srinagar and Jammu, emphasising the need for updated facilities, including sound systems, internet connectivity, fire safety, lift functionality, and general building enhancements. Additionally, he instructed the renovation of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of Opposition chambers, along with provisions for their official vehicles and residential accommodations.
He also called for repairs to the MLA hostels in both cities, stressing that all necessary amenities must be installed before the assembly elections are held. Dulloo urged the administration to take proactive steps to ensure that the Assembly can function smoothly once it is reconstituted after the elections.
