Last Updated on March 13, 2024 at 6:51 pm
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar today did not make any announcement on simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir, but said that the Election Commission (EC) wants to hold the elections at the earliest.
Talking to media persons in Jammu on conclusion of the 3-days visit of the EC to J&K for taking stock of the election preparedness, Kumar said there was no delay on the part of the EC in holding the Assembly elections.
He said that the changes in the number and composition of Assembly seats in the UT post-2019 and the J&K Reorganisation Act have changed the situation. However, he said that the ECI would hold Assembly polls at the earliest. After the J&K Reorganisation Act that was notified in December 2023, it is only three months and as such there is no delay from our side in holding the Assembly elections.
He said that the EC is concerned about holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but the final call on whether to hold two elections simultaneously, will be taken thorough consultations with the security agencies and political parties.
He, however, said that elections will be held soon without much delay. Majority of political parties we met in Srinagar and Jammu demanded that Assembly and Lok Sabha polls be held simultaneously, Kumar said. One thing is sure that we want early Assembly polls in J&K. Elections will be held in a peaceful manner. “There will be free and fair polls in J&K,” he said.
He said that representatives of political parties also demanded level playing field and adequate security cover for campaigning.
Kumar said that the delimitation has increased the number of Assembly seats in J&K to 114 with the effective strength increasing to 90 from the earlier 83. There is also reservation for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Besides, 9 seats have been reserved. Two seats have been reserved for Kashmiri migrants and one for displaced persons from PoK.
“Adequate security will be provided to all candidates and central forces will be deployed,” he added.
