Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 15: Full Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to visit Jammu & Kashmir on March 12 and 13 to review preparedness for Lok Sabha elections and examine possibility for conduct of Assembly polls.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Kumar Pandey and Arun Goel are expected to visit both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir on March 12 and 13 mainly to review preparedness for Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held in April-May.
They are also likely to assess the possibility for conduct of Assembly polls in the UT which were last held in November-December 2014.
During its visit to J&K, the poll panel is expected to meet different stakeholders including political parties and officials from civil administration and police and take their views on elections.
The poll-panel could also assess feasibility for holding Assembly polls in J&K in view of the deadline set by the Supreme Court.
On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission of India to hold J&K Assembly polls by September 30, 2024.
Jammu & Kashmir is without an elected Government since June 19, 2018 when BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led Government, citing deteriorating security situation in the erstwhile State.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Election Commission of India has approved 635 companies of paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir and 57 in Ladakh for conduct of polls for six Lok Sabha seats in the two Union Territories.
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