EC to Set Assembly Poll Schedule in Jammu Kashmir : LG Sinha

EC to Set Assembly Poll Schedule in Jammu Kashmir : LG Sinha

EC to Set Assembly Poll Schedule in Jammu Kashmir : LG Sinha

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission has sole authority to decide the Assembly election schedule in Jammu and Kashmir.
• LG Manoj Sinha expressed optimism for upcoming elections, referencing past government assurances.
• The EC team recently completed a review, with election dates pending security assessments.

Jammu, Aug 11: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed on Sunday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) holds the exclusive power to determine the timing of the Assembly elections in the Union Territory.

Sinha, speaking to reporters after inaugurating a new building at the Malaviya Mission Teachers Training Centre at the University of Jammu, emphasized that while the ECI controls the scheduling, there is hope that elections will be held soon.

Sinha referred to assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the electoral process. Modi’s June visit to Srinagar and Shah’s 2019 Parliament statement promised that delimitation would precede elections, with statehood granted at an appropriate time.

Sinha noted that this process is progressing as expected, and he anticipates the Assembly elections will occur in the near future.

Additionally, Sinha highlighted the recent visit of the Election Commission’s full team to Jammu and Kashmir, which included meetings with political parties, officials, and other stakeholders.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated that the ECI had completed its review of the situation and would assess security needs following the conclusion of the Amarnath Yatra on August 19 before announcing election dates.

This visit marked a significant step toward organizing the first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

The EC’s visit came ahead of a Supreme Court-imposed deadline of September 30 for completing the Assembly elections in the region.