Team to hold similar deliberations in Jammu on March 13, discuss Assembly Election Synchronization
Srinagar, Mar 12: A ten member delegation of Election Commission of India arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday to assess the preparations for the impending Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Following discussions with political representatives on Tuesday, the team convened meetings with civil administration and police officials.
According to officials, similar consultations are planned for Jammu on Wednesday. The Election Commission delegation commenced their three-day visit to Srinagar on Monday, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
Reports inform that there has been a growing demand from political quarters in Jammu and Kashmir for the Election Commission to conduct assembly elections concurrently with or immediately following the Lok Sabha polls. Notably, former Chief Ministers Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Ghulam Nabi Azad have advocated for this within the past two weeks.
In a notable development, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dullu chaired a meeting on Saturday with civil and police administration officials to outline measures for the seamless conduct of Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory.
Emphasizing the administration's commitment to facilitating free and fair elections with robust public participation, Dullu urged divisional and district administrations to take all necessary steps to ensure citizens face no impediments in exercising their democratic rights.
Political representatives of various parties in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday jointly advocated for the synchronization of assembly elections with the Lok Sabha polls as they voiced their concerns and demands during a meeting with the Election Commission team in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Echoing similar sentiments, another NC leader underscored the urgency of holding assembly elections before the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra, citing security concerns and the imperative of safeguarding democratic rights.
On the other hand, representatives from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) outlined their respective stances on electoral reforms.
RS Pathania, representing the BJP, emphasized the need to enhance voter turnout in Lok Sabha elections and proposed measures to facilitate smoother voting processes.
Additionally, the BJP advocated for the establishment of polling booths in regions with Kashmiri Pandit populations to bolster their electoral participation. “BJP is in favor of holding assembly elections in the state soon. If Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held simultaneously, BJP will support it,” he said.
PDP representative Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura stressed the importance of conducive security conditions for holding assembly elections, expressing hope for their expeditious conduct.
“If the security situation with the Lok Sabha is good, then assembly elections should be held. We only hope that assembly elections should be held as soon as possible,” Hanjura said.
Following the deliberations with political stakeholders, the Election Commission officials are scheduled to conduct comprehensive reviews of the election preparations in collaboration with local authorities. This includes consultations with District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police to assess logistical requirements and security arrangements.
