As concluding the assessment visit, the Chief Election Commissioner announced that the poll dates for Jammu and Kashmir would be disclosed following a final security review in Delhi, reports Jahangir Sofi
As the Election Commission of India (ECI) concluded its visit to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir to assess the region’s readiness for assembly elections, the last word in Jammu linked the final decision to the final security review in Delhi. “We have completed the state-level review,” CEC Rajiv Kumar said. “The Yatra is also concluding after the 19th. Now, a security forces requirement assessment will be conducted in Delhi, and after that, as per the norm, we will inform the press about the poll dates,”.
Kumar reiterated the EC’s commitment to holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest opportunity. He emphasised that all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir were strongly advocating for the prompt conduct of assembly elections. “We are committed to conducting polls in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest, and no internal or external forces can derail the election,” Kumar stated.
During their discussions with representatives of various political parties, Kumar said there was a unanimous demand for a level playing field and the streamlining of security cover for politicians. The commission would also take deadlines into account when scheduling the elections.
Kumar led the full commission that comprised Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and SS Sandhu.
Day One
On the first day, upon the team’s arrival at the SKICC, representatives from various political parties across Jammu and Kashmir strongly advocated for the immediate conduct of Assembly elections, calling for a “level playing field.”
This demand reflected the growing impatience among the region’s political parties for restoring electoral processes, as Jammu and Kashmir has not held Assembly elections since 2014 and has been without representation in its legislative assembly since June 2018. Jammu and Kashmir has been under direct rule by the central government since 2018, after the collapse of the BJPDP coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti, following the withdrawal of support by the BJP.
Following the initial meeting with delegations of political parties, the Commission held discussions with deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police.
The visit came after the ECI instructed the Jammu and Kashmir government to transfer officers serving in their home districts and those who have served in a particular district for three of the past four years, as a preparatory measure for holding elections.
Nasir Aslam Wani, Kashmir Provincial President of the JKNC, who led the party’s delegation to the Commission highlighted the urgency of conducting elections, noting that Jammu and Kashmir has been without a democratically elected government since June 2018.
“We need representatives to address political, development, and security concerns. We ask for a level playing field and unbiased decisions. The officers should not be posted for their benefit,” Wani said.
Khurshid Alam, who recently returned to the PDP after deserting the JK Peoples Conference met the Commission and questioned the delay in announcing election dates. He pointed to the successful and peaceful conduct of events like the Amarnath Yatra and parliamentary elections and highlighted the apparent contradiction between the government’s assurances of improved conditions and the ongoing delay in holding state elections.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga, accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir’s chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, described the extended absence of democratic elections in the region as a critical issue that needs urgent resolution to restore democracy. They requested that security measures for political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir be on par with those applied elsewhere.
RS Pathania of the BJP emphasised the need to hold elections before the Supreme Court’s September 30, 2024, deadline. Pathania expressed optimism about the imminent announcement of election dates and the establishment of a democratic government in Jammu and Kashmir. He also ruled out any pre-poll alliance, stating that the BJP would contest the assembly elections independently in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meeting Bureaucracy
Following the ECI’s discussions with political representatives, the commission met with deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of Jammu and Kashmir Police to review administrative and security arrangements. On August 9, the delegation also met with Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, and the Director General of Police to discuss administrative and security preparations in detail. The team then proceeded to Jammu for further consultations with security agencies, aiming to finalise their review process.
What happened in these meetings was not immediately known.
It is pertinent to mention that a constitution bench of the Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 2024 for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold assembly elections in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court, while upholding the abrogation of the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir, directed the poll panel to hold assembly elections in the region by September 30, 2024. The last assembly election in the former state was held in 2014.
Strict Vigil
The Chief Election Commissioner emphasised the importance of maintaining a strict vigil, particularly at critical border checkpoints, to prevent the smuggling of heroin and the transportation of illicit liquor.
The ECI chief also instructed district magistrates and superintendents of police to remain impartial, transparent, and equally accessible to all parties. He urged them not to be complacent and to build upon the benchmarks set during the Lok Sabha elections. He called for the facilitation of voting at polling stations by ensuring the availability of basic amenities like water and seating for elderly voters. Additionally, he stressed the need for prompt responses to fake news, urging authorities to act against those spreading false information.
“No last-minute changes to polling station locations on the grounds of security concerns,” he stated. “Polling stations should be set up within 2 kilometres of voters, and transport should be provided for those residing in hilly and difficult terrains. Transparency in granting permissions for grounds and meeting places is essential,” he added during the press conference.
Statehood Announcement
In a surprising development, amid the ECI’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review poll preparedness, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, who was also on a visit to Kashmir, told the media that the Centre might announce the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before October this year. He said the legislative assembly elections might also be held in October.
“Polls are scheduled to be held in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh before October. I think before October, statehood can be restored, and elections may also happen in October,” he said.
He pointed out that the Home Minister had already assured, at the time of the abrogation of Article 370, that assembly elections and statehood would be restored.
A New Assembly
If the elections are finally taking place, it will be a very different assembly. It has now 90 assembly constituencies spread across 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, with 74 falling into the general category, nine reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and seven for Scheduled Castes. It will have many nominated people and there is no chance of having members to the legislative council that has ceased to exist. The political class is still debating the disempowered status of the new assembly even though they have yet to go to the hustings.
Even though the visiting Commission almost announced the polls barring a rider that will be tackled in Delhi, the political class is still not sure that elections will take place. After the Commission flew to Delhi, several politicians in private capacities said the polls are unlikely as the government is dithering for one or the other reason.
The government sources, however, insist that the elections will take place somewhere in October. LG Manoj Sinha also indicated that polls will take place this fall only. Given the fact that the parts of Jammu witnessed a spurt in militancy-related activities in the recent past and the defence forces are engaged in a standoff with China in Ladakh, it remains to be seen if the security scene is permitted to dominate the otherwise positive situation across Jammu and Kashmir. Lok Sabha witnessed the best participation across the entire Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh.
